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Creative and entertainment industry in Nigeria has become a key driver of growth, analysts have posited. The creative economy – which includes, the film industry, the music industry, the culture industry, visual arts industry, the fashion industry and many others – is not only one of the most rapidly growing sectors of the world economy, it is also a highly transformative one in terms of income generation, job creation and export earnings.

Motion pictures, sound recording and music production which are all part of the creative industry are collectively now worth billions of pounds, and constitute 1.4% of the country’s £307bn GDP, according to the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics.

The Nigerian Film Industry, Nollywood which is the most prominent in the creative industry in the country has impacted greatly on the national economy. Within twenty years of its existence, the industry has taken giant strides to become an industry to reckon with in and outside the country.

Experts credit the birth of Nollywood to the 1992 video release of Living in Bondage, a movie with a tale of the occult that was an instant and huge-selling success. However, some stakeholders argue that long before that some notable Nigerians had been involved in the production of film and video for television and in theatre.

Whatever the case may be, the important thing is that from then, the industry has grown into a multimillion Naira industry from creativity and hard work of many stakeholders. Today, there are dozens of distribution companies, hundreds of movie producers and directors, thousands of actors and other stakeholders in the industry in Nigeria.

Nigeria video film is a staple in almost every Nigerian home. The appeal has also stretched far beyond Nigeria to other African countries and Africans in Diaspora.

Nollywood is adjudged the third in global revenue earnings, with receipts over the years reported to range between US$300m to US$800m in the recent past. It has been asserted that the Nigeria film industry is the second largest employer of labor, with an average movie employing a minimum of 130 people.

The Nigerian film industry Nollywood produces about 50 movies per week, second only to India’s Bollywood – more than United States’ Hollywood. Although its revenues are not on par with Bollywood’s and Hollywood’s, Nollywood still generates impressive revenue annually.

This treatise rides on the crest of this favourable industry climate to advocate the need, and propose ways, to grow the film industry in Cross River State for the development of State’s economy and create jobs for its teeming youths.

The film industry in Cross River State can be said to still be in its infancy compared to what obtains I other states in Nigeria. There are very few films produced in the state annually and the state can boast of only a handful of A-list actors, quality producers and film distribution companies.

There is need for the Cross River State Government thus to support the development of this very important industry in the state as we seek to create jobs for our teeming youths and diversify the state’s economy for growth and development.

How can the Cross River State Government grow the film industry in the state, make it more vibrant and make it a leading sector in the economy?

To achieve this, first the state government needs to invest in local capacity-building to empower film industry entrepreneurs in the state. This can be done by establishing a Cross River State Film Academy where training in different aspects of film making will be taught to interested youth.

Training and capacity building has often been identified as a very important aspect of development in the film industry. From script writing to acting, production, post production etc. the role of training cannot be over emphasized. A standard film academy will thus be a good place to start and build capacity of stakeholders at the local level.

Second in the line up is need for the Cross River State government to seek creative ways to provide funding for the industry in the state. As lucrative as the film industry is, the challenge of funding has often limited many stakeholders from achieving their dream. Unlike in Hollywood, financial institutions in Nigeria have not been able to structure funding options for projects in the industry in Nigeria.

International agencies, some banks and the Federal Government of Nigeria has sought ways to support growth in the sector and the Cross River State government can collaborate with these institutions in a bid to draw these funds for investors in the state.

The state government must also play the role of guarantor for some of these loans to enable young people take more risk in this direction as they explore their creative capacities.

The third thing that needs to be done is for the Cross River State Government to mainstream film industry initiatives into economic and social development programmes of the state. The state must formulate policies that will help develop the industry in the state. We must create and implement a blueprint for the development if the film industry in Cross River State.

The state government must also set up agencies saddled with the responsibility of not only regulating but also growing this very important sector in the state. This agency must work closely with related Ministries, Departments and Agencies locally and nationally to achieve set goals and objectives. These and other steps will help develop the film industry in Cross River State.

What does the industry hold for Nigeria and Cross River State in the future?

The exponential growth of Nigeria Film Industry has been attributed to enhanced production and content quality of Nigerian films and stemming from growing professionalism. The spread of digital technology will be a major driving force for the film industry in the years to come, as domestic consumption increases.

Higher levels of internet access, increased penetration rates for smart phones and improved bandwidth are all expected to help generate a production boom.

Likewise, pay-TV penetration is forecast to reach 24.4% by 2018, with competition amongst digital terrestrial television operators set to grow after Nigeria migrates to digital.

If the Cross River State Government helps to develop the film industry in the state, thousands of jobs would be created in the next few years in the state and this will also contribute to the development of the Cross River State economy.

Best regards.

Emmanuel Etim is a development consultant based in Nigeria emmanuel.etim22@gmail.com

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Christian Ita

A short piece published in ThisDay newspaper today with the caption: “How Ayade Stings Civil Servants”, is a classic in falsehood.

Cross River State civil servants have never had it so good as they do under the administration of Governor Ben Ayade.

For instance, while many states with even bigger allocation from the federation account are struggling to pay workers salary, the Ayade administration pays salary on the 25th of every month.

Indeed, in September, salaries were even paid on the 23rd because of the Muslim holiday.

The writer’s claim that the recent strike embarked upon by workers was due to huge unpaid salary to teachers and local government workers is falsehood taken to a level of absurdity.

First, neither local government workers nor teachers in the state are owed a single month of salary. Which explains why both NUT and NULGE refused to take part in the strike. Second, the workers went on strike over check-up dues.

Besides being up to date with payment of salaries, Ayade has since assumption of office taken several policy decisions aimed at improving the lot of workers in the state, especially the minimum wage earners.

One of such policies is the tax exemption law that excludes low income earners from paying taxes.

He also has signed into law, a bill which makes housing a right in the state. The law gives legal teeth to his administration’s plan to build 5000 modular homes for the poor and unemployed in the state.

A man who has done this in just four months in office deserves commendation. He should be encouraged to do more.

Ita is SA on Media and Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ayade

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Every administration marks out certain policy direction it intends to pursue with vigour following the ideological and political drive and colouration of the Chief driver and mover of such administration.

Whatsoever policies it introduces that have never been practised by past regimes are given such impetus because the Chief Executive has a clear picture of what he intends to achieve, how and for what intent he seeks to achieve them.

Recently when the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Benedict Ayade came out with a directive that Commissioner nominees and some other category of nominees will undergo aptitude tests to determine their preparedness to fully key into the entire developmental vision of the governor, there were mix feelings across the country and among nominees hopeful, their supporters, family members and other Cross Riverians of the intention of the Governor Ayade.

While some viewed the policy as a step in the right direction that will bring the best of hands to bear in the administration of the state, others like me felt that it was a policy targeted at humiliating the potential nominees.

So, I took on one of the “Oga at the top” in the Ayade’s administration who had access to the questions because I gathered the governor instructed that the questions must be kept secret and the test too was done without any noise.

Hear us:

Jalingo: Oga, this una aptitude test na another style to humiliate appointees o. How will professionals in their field be asked to write an aptitude test as though they are hunting for a job. Will the Commissionership be advertised in the papers for applications?

Oga: The thing is that you will ask questions when there are things you don’t understand. The test is to measure the problem solving skills of the nominees and test how they will be able to respond to pressure on duty. Even you sef, if I throw you some of the questions, you may not get them right.

Jalingo: Oga that is not possible. I go pass unless you ask me about Mars or Jupiter. Oya!

Oga: Ok. Are you ready?

Jalingo: Yes Sir.

Oga: Between 10kg of Iron and 10kg of feathers, which one is heavier?

Jalingo: Iron

Oga: You are wrong. 10kg is 10kg. It could be a small bar of iron that is the 10kg and even 30 bags of feathers too that may make up the 10kg but I said 10kg and 10kg. You see that you have failed number 1. You think you are smart abi. Let me ask you the second one.

Jalingo: Aaaaaaah, Ok sir.

Oga: 100 passengers boarded a plane from Ghana to Nigeria, 50 of the passengers are Nigerians while the remaining 50 are Cameroonians. The Plane crashed exactly at the boundary between Nigeria and Cameroon, where will the survivors be buried?

Jalingo: Bury them at the site in Cameroon.

Oga: See you? You have failed again because you were not paying attention. The moment you heard plane crash, you did not pay attention to notice that what I asked was survivors and not the dead. You don’t bury survivors, they proceed for treatment and then go home. This kind of question will tell you whether the nominee is an attentive person or not. A very important quality for public office. So you see it is not about the profession. You must do headline news about yourself too oo. That Jalingo fails Ayade aptitude test.

Jalingo: Ah, oga this is serious o. so I don’t fail two questions now now. Make I try the third one sir.

Oga: Ok. Listen and pay very good attention because you have failed questions that even my son can answer one hand. I will not read the question twice so listen attentively. Imagine that you are alone in a wild forest without any type of weapon, and you see a lion charging at you and running after you until the lion gets very close to you, what will you do to stop that situation?

Jalingo: Hmmmmm, let me think because I must not fail this one o…

Oga: Time is going o. If you were in the test now, your time would have finished by now.

Jalingo: Ok. Will you climb a tree or just allow the lion to eat you up oooo

Oga: (bursts into laughter) see that you have also failed this one too. The answer is that it is an imagination. So you stop imagining. The first word in my question was ‘IMAGINE’. That is what it was, an imagination so you just stop the imagination.

Jalingo: Oga that one na ojoro answer. That answer is subjective because the imagination had already created a real life situation.

Oga: Noooooo, you failed that too. Now let me ask you the last one and I will not give you the answer. You will keep the answer to yourself whether you pass or fail.

Jalingo: Ok sir.

Oga: Why are all manhood or if you like call it womanhood, why are they all round?

Jalingo: The same manhood that we know or you mean something else?

Oga: Yes, the same one….

Jalingo: Ok. It’s because the earth is round…

Oga: The earth is spherical, it is not round…

Jalingo: Oga, the manhood abi na womanhood sef is not round na, there are spherical too.

Oga: I told you I won’t give you that answer so you sort that out yourself. But don’t forget to do the story that you sef failed the aptitude test. You can now see that the first question to the last question demands that the nominees should be able to have more than average IQ ,they should be people with problem solving skills, people who would be proactive and do things without being told to do so and do them correctly too. It requires that people should act fast to solve problems or handle situations, be critical in their thinking and respond timely to emergency situations.

So that was how woeful I performed in the aptitude test and thank God I was not a nominee because I heard a lot of people made the examiners to laugh very well with their wrong answers but plenty still scaled through.

But this will come as bad news to some quarters who had already started touting my name online as one of the nominees. And I must tell you that the joke was taken as far as people calling me and congratulating me for my appointment.

Some had even started praying for me and telling me how we are going to implement all the ideas they had in their cup boards all these years and so on and so forth plus the surplus facebook friend requests for the latest commissioner.

Unfortunately, your Comi Comi failed his aptitude test. He will not be Commissioner unless you people will carry placards and beg Governor Ayade to give me another test.

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Ongoing clearing of the project site for the super highway

When on Friday, May 29, 2015, the Obudu born Senator Benedict Benyaushuye Ayade, an erudite Professor of Environmental Science was sworn-in as the third Governor of Cross River State from 1999 to date, he made it clear that he was going to undertake the construction of a dual super highway running the length of the state and the construction of a deep seaport, christened, “Signature Projects”.

Some few sceptics had doubted the veracity and honesty of the governor, telling those who cared to listen to them that the project was not going to see the light of the day.

This group of persons had felt elated and congratulated themselves and poop champagnes for the accuracy of their clairvoyance, when the Monday, September 21, 2015 earlier date for the ground breaking was shifted by President Muhammadu Buhari without giving a definite new date for the rescheduled ground breaking.

What matters to us now is not the wrong misrepresentations of those sceptics because they are found in every society, but that our dear President Buhari who is highly principled has given the government and people of Cross River State his words that the rescheduled ground breaking ceremony will now come up on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at the ground breaking site, Nsan Community of Akamkpa.

It is also not an issue now that by Tuesday when President Buhari will be coming for the ground breaking ceremony of the super highway, more than 15 kilometers may have been cleared along the surveyed route where the highway will pass. As this article is going to press, heavy equipment for the commencement of construction have arrived Calabar as we are gradually approaching the dry season.

No man with a clear intention will doubt that the genuineness of the well conceived projects by Ayade has attracted the respect, Presidential handshake from President Muhammadu Buhari who is coming to carry out the ground breaking ceremony of the N700Billion road stretching the length of 260 kilometers from Calabar to Gakem, Bekwarra and to the famous Obudu Ranch Resort. The Funding architecture is based on Public Private Partnership (PPP) with 500Million Euros tabled by Broad Spectrum.

All necessary arrangements have already been concluded for the revered President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to perform the rescheduled ground breaking ceremony billed for Tuesday, October 20, 2015 in Calabar, the capital city of Cross River State.

One irrefutable reality which nobody can deny is that it is no mean task to win the confidence of a highly principled and anti-corruption crusader, number one citizen of Nigeria, President Buhari to consider Governor Ayade’s proposal and again included the ground breaking ceremony in his very busy schedule.

The 260 Super Highway which will have six lanes will have some very unique features including being the first with fiber cable, first with unlimited internet all the way and evacuation corridor to northern Nigeria, First with tunnel road, satellite antenna, first with no hill, valley and with street lights stretching 260 kilometers and with super strength apart from being an evacuation corridor to northern Nigeria.

The super highway when completed will have sub highway leading to all local government headquarters in the state, and will have fuelling stations and motels reaching 10 kilometers on both sides of the highway. Speed control cameras and ambulance will also patrol 24 hours on the road.

The ability of Governor Ayade to have conceived and dream big with a clear vision supported by a pragmatic leadership, worked assiduously and propelled those abstract concepts into concrete terms no doubt is the very reason why in this dispensation the government and people of Cross River State have not only earned a special place in the very disciplined heart of President Buhari, but has become the first state in the South-South geo-political zone to be visited by the Nigerian number one citizen.

As a man who before now has prepared himself sufficiently ahead of time to provide service to the people, Ayade came into government with array of development projects and programmes that will transform the socio-economic and political face of Cross River State.

The dual super high way, the deep seaport, the garment factory, refinery among others are carefully planned to turn around 360 degrees, the fortunes of the State and its people.

The super high way will provide easy access from the seaport up to the northern part of Nigeria, reducing the many hours are presently being wasted between Calabar seaport and the northern part of Nigeria, as well as the neighbouring land-locked countries like Niger and Chad.

The road will drastically reduce the rate of accidents and the associated carnages, waste of human lives, maiming of persons and bringing a lot of sorrows to many families.

Another benefit of the dual super high way to the people of the state is that it will greatly boost the economic profile of all the communities that lies along the super high way route

Similarly, the deep seaport which is one of the two signature projects of governor Ayade is signed to accommodate mother vessels, when completed is expected to remove the hitherto blockage by evacuating the corridors that have always served as obstacle to bigger vessels from entering the Calabar seaport, forcing them to always anchor at Lome, and transferring the goods to smaller vessels that can find their way to the Calabar seaport.

The combined force of the dual super high way and the deep seaport will equally serve as a veritable boost to land locked countries like Chad and Niger Republic to evacuate their goods from the seaport through the super high way to their various countries, as well as Cameroon.

As a prelude to the most anticipated and prized rescheduled visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Cross River State to officially perform the ground breaking ceremony of the super high way, one of the signature projects of Governor Benedict Ayade, these writers went to town to feel the pulse of some Cross Riverians whose various reactions as indicated in this article is a clear indication that the people of the state are very happy with the landmark achievements of Ayade and for specifically winning the trust, confidence e and respect of Mr. President to create time from his busy schedule for a ground breaking in Cross River state.

A former member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council and former chairman of the Military wing of the Petroleum Trust Fund, General Edward Unimna (Rtd) said that it is a privileged treatment that President Buhari is visiting Cross River State, stressing that it is not easy to pull the President from his congested schedule, hence his acceptance shows how he holds he State in high regards.

“It is a very good pointer that the state is doing well. I must commend the Federal Government for this confidence reposed on the state. When President Buhari selected Ayade to accompany him to the Cameroon, it was a clear indication that the President is happy with what our governor is doing and that the governor is working harmoniously with the Federal Government”.

General Unimna stated that the President coming is re-assuring as it has cleared doubts from the minds of sceptics, adding that the President coming is a clear pointer that the super highway would be a reality, just as it will clear a lot of fears as regards the project.

Reacting to the Nigerian number one citizen’s visit to Cross River State the former Chairman of Obudu Local Government Council, Hon Cecilia Ally reasoned that the acceptance of President Muhammadu Buhari to personally come to perform the ground breaking for the super high way is a very clear indication that Buhari is a father to all Nigerians.

Hon. Ally said that President Buhari has proven that he is accommodating both his political party, APC and other political parties by coming to carry out ground breaking on a project conceived and initiated by Senator Ben Ayade, a PDP governor. “Buhari has shown that he is a father to all Nigerians. Equally, Ayade has proven to us that we have a bright future before us under his leadership”.

The former number one indigene of Obudu expressed her deep appreciation to Governor Ayade for creating and ensuring such cordiality between him and the President within a very short period in office, indicating that we have a very bright future before us, adding that through Ayade efforts, Cross River has become the first state in the South-South to be visited by the President.

A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River, Chief Linus Okom (Ada Bekwarra), asserted that by the coming of the President, “It makes the people of the state not to feel that they are in the opposition party and that they are part of the family”, stressing that “it would be wonderful to welcome him”.

Every Cross Riverian is happy that the President’s first visit to the South-South is to Cross River state, and that it is a clear confirmation that the President is transparent, and that his statement that he belongs to all and is a President for all Nigerians is true”.

In his reaction, the former Commissioner for Local Government, Chief Peter Ojie said that it is a heart warming visit, and to know that Cross River State is one of the very few states has been so blessed to be visited by President Buhari since he was elected President and that it holds great potentials for us as Cross Riverians.

“It is a clear indication that the President is happy with what our dear governor is doing in the state with the array of people-oriented projects which he has packaged and by the grace of God would be a reality”.

The immediate past Senator representing the Southern Senatorial District, Senator Prince Bassey Otu commended governor Ayade for his effort culminating in the acceptance of President Buhari not just visiting Cross River but coming to perform an official assignment of carrying out a ground breaking ceremony for the dual carriage super high way initiated by Ayade.

Senator Otu also praised President Buhari for his transparent leadership and for playing politics that goes beyond party line, and wished him the best as he visits the people’s paradise.

A woman who identified herself as Paulina Ubong, a garri merchant said that she has never had any fear about Ayade because she had heard him speak and had also seen him work and the sincerity of the governor in bringing about projects that will have direct bearing in the lives of the common man, and thanked President Buhari for accepting to come and carry out the ground breaking ceremony of the super high way.

A motorist plying the route between the northern part of the state and Calabar, Mr. Godwin Atem Ogani, commended Senator Ayade, Governor of Cross River for his visionary leadership and for conceiving such great projects such as the signature projects which includes the super high way that Mr. President is coming to carry out a groundbreaking on Monday, stressing that when the road is completed, the agony being faced by motorists and other road users along that route would become a thing of the past.

It is lucid and true that at several occasions, by his actions and utterances, Governor Ayade has proven beyond doubt that he has a well planned course for his administration, and that the projects he has earmarked for execution will surely come to fruition; hence those who think that the projects are a ruse would at the end of the day be highly disappointed as they will find out that their clairvoyance failed them and that they are prophets of doom.

Welcome to the people’s paradise inhabited by the most hospitable and peaceful people in the whole universe, our dear President Muhammadu Buhari;

welcome Baba!

Solomon Asha and Emmanuel Ulayi are media aides to governor Ayade

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Princewill Odidi

It is very impressive to know that the superhighway will have a tunnel, maybe to protect some parts of the forest or major landmarks, an antenna and a 4G LTE Internet penetration covering the length of the road. This is what we call development.

To those whose concern is how the state will pay off this huge debt, I don’t think it will be a major problem if properly managed.

Nigerians are in search of vacation life, Nigerians spend billions in real estate and tourism in Ghana and Dubai yearly.

The Cattle Ranch has one of the best scenery in Africa that can readily be developed to one of the world’s ultra modern vacation centers both for local and international tourism.

If the ranch gets the required visibility and accessibility coupled with modern day 4 G LTE through the superhighway, the proposed transformation of that real estate (the ranch) as a tourism heaven coupled with the customization of displays of African culture as a trademark for the Ranch, can have the ability to attract hundreds of thousands of Nigerians to travel to the Ranch, own properties, shop and relax for vacation rather than travelling to Ghana or Dubai.

We missed a similar opportunity when Tinapa was developed, we should take the opportunity of the superhighway to refocus national attention to Cross river state.

I will maintain, that the vision should go beyond the superhighway to the development and tourist promotion of a proposed Ranch City.

Developing both concepts concurrently will make loan repayment and improving IGR easier. Nigeria as a country, with a rising middle class is a big market that we can easily explore.

I believe with smart thinking and the right human capacity on board, this Superhighway that so many frown about, maybe the key to opening our economic potentials as a state.
Having studied the development metrics on the gains of the proposed superhighway if properly managed and executed with timelines, I can confidently tell you that if this project is followed to the letter, given the right professional management, technical capability, financial prudence, timelines management, coupled with the development of a proposed Ranch city, then this project will end up as our major breakthrough as a people. However, if for any reason whatsoever it is mismanaged or abandoned, we may never come out of the debt burden for decades.

The fact that the President is conducting the ground breaking is an excellent development. Although the present design is that the state government plans to source for investment finance to execute the project from international financial corporations on a PPP arrangement.

Our earnest prayer is that the state governor should make more effort in convincing the President to adopt this noble project as a federal road project and thus absolve us from all financial burden.

I would use this medium to call on stakeholders and traditional chiefs in Cross River state who will join the Governor to welcome President Buhari on Tuesday, to publicly make a request to President Buhari, appealing to him for the federal government to take over the road as it will also create economic openness and easy accessibility to the northern Nigeria.

I am very definite, if this request is made to Mr President publicly during his visit, he will either yield to a complete take over of the project or may offer to take on a percentage of the bill. However, there is no harm in trial, the request should be made.

I will also appeal to all well meaning Cross Riverians to tone down the arguments against the project both on social media and print media. Let us not create an impression that we are divided over the matter.

Every Governor in our short democratic history left behind a signature project. Donald’s Tinapa failed but his Carnival, Sanitation and Ranch projects stood out.

Imoke’s Convention Center, ITM Ugep and The agricultural farms are still on the works, we pray they become profitable. Let us help create the required synergy to make Ben Ayade’s superhighway signature project to succeed.

Most importantly, I will appeal, let the stakeholders and traditional Chiefs that will join Ben Ayade receive Mr President, seize the opportunity of his visit to make an open request for the federal government to take over the superhighway financing, after-all, we lost Bakassi and our oil wells to prevent a possible Civil war with Cameroon for the advantage of the entire country.

Secondly, we house one of the world’s most revered rain forest and national parks for the benefit of Nigeria and the entire world. If we could make such a sacrifice for the peace of our country and the promotion of environmental safety, making a request that the federal government should take over the cost of the superhighway that will create accessibility to the rain forest, I don’t think we are asking for too much.

There is no harm if President Buhari turns down the request, but as a student of government and public policy, I bet he will concede if the request is passionately done publicly by our traditional chiefs.

We have given enough to make Nigeria peaceful at the detriment of our farmlands, natural resources, oil wells and displacement of our brothers and sisters in Bakassi.

Requesting for a federal intervention for access roads to aid our ailing economy from the federal government, I don’t think we are asking for too much.

Princewill Odidi is a Project development Consultant writing from Atlanta USA

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Orok Duke

INTRODUCTION:

Dictionary.Com defines a Turnpike as a “high-speed highway, especially one maintained by tolls.’’ It is also known as a toll road or toll way, operated as a public or private roadway for which a fee (or toll) is assessed for passage.

According to Wikipedia, Turnpikes: have existed for at least the last 2,700 years, as tolls had to be paid by travellers using the Susa–Babylon highway under the regime of Ashurbanipal, who reigned in the 7th century BC.

We are further informed that, ‘’In India, before the 4th century BC, the Arthasastra recorded the use of tolls.

Germanic tribes charged tolls to travellers across mountain passes. Tolls were used in the Holy Roman Empire in the 14th and 15th centuries.’’

The Press Release by the Cross River Government about the new highway, states as follows:

“…Buhari who is coming to carry out the ground breaking ceremony of the N700Billion road stretching the length of 260 kilometers from Calabar to Gakem, Bekwarra and to the famous Obudu Ranch Resort. The Funding architecture is based on Public Private Partnership (PPP) with 500Million Euros tabled by Broad Spectrum.

“The 260 Super Highway which will have six lanes will have some very unique features including being the first with fibre cable, first with unlimited internet all the way and evacuation corridor to northern Nigeria,

“First with tunnel road, satellite antenna, first with no hill, valley and with street lights stretching 260 kilometers and with super strength apart from being an evacuation corridor to northern Nigeria.

“The super highway when completed will have sub highway leading to all local government headquarters in the state, and will have fuelling stations and motels reaching 10 kilometers on both sides of the highway. Speed control cameras and ambulance will also patrol 24 hours on the road.’’

The main thrust is that the “Super Highway” will be tolled. Therefore, the new road will be a Turnpike – Ben Ayade Turnpike.

Governor Ben Ayade’s Signature Projects:

A wise man once said that we are usually given a bag of tools at birth. As we venture into the world, it would befit each of us to either build a stepping stone or a stumbling block.

The same can be said of an elected official, he is usually faced with the choice of justifying the mandate or otherwise. While, in this case, as Governor Ben Ayade strives to justify his mandate, the least that we can do, at this early stage, is to give him a chance or hear him out – even when our patience starts wearing thin.

Governor Ayade picked the Deep Seaport Project as his second Signature Project. He has set goals and is working assiduously to achieve them.

He had said: “We refuse to steer the middle course in our struggle for liberation from the fetters of lack, limitations and backwardness, but to explore our ingenuity to the limits and establish milestones to be visited by generations.”

His determination is intriguing and encouraging. I support the idea of having Signature Projects – the ones that will outlive our generation and not those that will be eviscerated by the eccentricities of successive governments.

Our past is fundamental to our future survival. We once had the following industries that became moribund and were eventually cannibalised and sold out; Calven ply, Calabar; Fruit Juice, Odukpani; Salt Processing Industry, Okpoma, Yala; Polyrub and Plastics Industry, Akamkpa; Durafoam, Ikom; CRS Garri Industry, Obubra; Obudu Meat Processing Industry, Obudu; and diverse Agricultural Projects, among others. Chief Steve Agba would be turning in his grave now – God Bless his soul.

We also witnessed some projects that were abandoned since 2007. To this end, any measure by the Cross River State government that seeks to create projects that would assist in stemming the escalating unemployment in the state, should be supported.

A HARD ROAD TO TRAVEL: CONCLUSION

A precursory look at the present scenario would reveal the following: the Calabar – Ikom road that was constructed by Reynolds, Brezzina, Brown (RBB) in 1973, is no more motorable and passable (like all other inter-city roads); there is paucity of funds in Cross River State at the moment, there are so many strategic and vital projects that are contending for the limited resources and Governor Ayade is bent on completing his chosen Signature/Legacy projects, despite some apprehension and scepticism and trepidation in the polity – He has chosen a hard road to travel.

I wish to end my axiomatic piece with a part of the lyrics of the song ‘A Hard Road to Travel’ by Jimmy Cliff. It goes thus:

I’ve got a hard road to travel and a rough, rough way to go
Said it’s a hard road to travel and a rough, rough way to go
But I can’t turn back, my heart is fixed
My mind’s made up, I’ll never stop
My faith will see, see me through.

Governor Ayade’s mind is made up and he can’t turn back and he has faith in what he is doing presently.

He also has the mandate to lead the state for the next four years and has shown the determination to chart a different course by courting and securing the support of President Mohammadu Buhari.

It is my prayer that President Buhari; would also authorize the addition of two extra lanes and train lines at the behest of the Federal Government.

We cannot really foretell the future, but we owe him that ‘’benefit of doubt’’ – to give him the chance to build his stumbling block or our stepping stone.

My take, therefore, is that Ben Ayade Turnpike – should be given a chance.

Orok Otu Duke
Duke Town,
Calabar.

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When I thought about contributing to the conversation on the proposed visit of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Cross River State to perform the ground breaking for the Super Highway, I observed that the conversations so far have revolved around issues which have been over flogged, leaving out the very important lessons which could leave us all with lasting impact.

This article seeks to unveil and communicate the lessons that are inherent in Sen. Prof. Ayade Benedict’s ambition to build a super highway in the state, his ability to successfully bring the President to the state for the ground breaking and how we can apply these lessons to our lives to achieve success individually and collectively.

LESSON NUMBER ONE:

BIG DREAMS ATTRACT BIG PEOPLE AND SMALL DREAMS ATTRACT SMALL PEOPLE

“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though chequered by failure, than to take ranks with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”

This quote by Theodore Roosevelt has for long become a principle for me and gives a background to my support for the big dreams of Sen. Benedict Ayade’s administration. The President of Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria is by no means a small personality.

Aside from his status and standing among the committee of nations, he is also a very busy person considering the issues, in all the states, which constantly require his attention, contribution and much needed action.

To be able to get him to attend to the function of ground breaking for the Super Highway means that this is not only worth his time but also in line with his vision. That is what big dreams do; they get the attention of big people and get a commitment from them to act and support the dream to succeed.

The dream to build the first super highway complete with all the modern facilities in Cross River State, a state which is not among the highest earning states in Nigeria, is a big dream and is bound to attract many big people, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria being just one of many to come.

Do you have a dream? Is that dream big enough? Can you dare to achieve it? Go ahead today and dream of something big and go out to achieve it. That big dream will attract big people to you. Do not dream small dreams, small dreams attract small people and small people only bring trouble.

LESSON NUMBER TWO: COMMITMENT IS THE ENEMY OF RESISTANCE

David McNally said and I quote “Commitment is the enemy of resistance, for it is the serious promise to press on, to get up, no matter how many times you are knocked down.”

There could be no better words to describe Sen. Benedict Ayade’s commitment to continue and achieve success in the construction of the deep sea port and the super highway project in the past few months and getting the President to come for the ground breaking ceremony.

There have been resistances both visible and invisible, from within the state and without, from the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressive Congress. The governor has even been knocked down many times but he has refused to stay down, he gets up, presses on and success is what has surely come out of it.

Be not deceived, the journey has only begun, there are more challenges ahead but his commitment is sure to see us through.

These words from Goethe should give us the faith to go on; “The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”

What is that thing you want to achieve? Have you made the needed commitment to it? Without commitment nothing can be achieved. Go on and make the commitment to that one thing you want to achieve and see yourself succeed.

LESSON NUMBER THREE: IT IS THE VISION THAT BRINGS THE PROVISION

Vision can be defined as the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom. The Cambridge Online Dictionary also defines vision as the ability to imagine how a country, state, industry, etc. could develop in the future and to plan for this.

Vision is an important quality of a good leader. Provision on the other hand in this context is defined as the act of supplying needed resources; financial, material and otherwise needed to achieve a set goal.

Limitation in financial provision is a major impediment to many people but I had learnt a long time ago that the power of vision often brings the needed provision to achieve that vision.

Cross River State has been called many things including “a poor state” and many more.

Many who sought to lead the state would never have conceived of such bold initiative because of this but a leader will always distinguish himself with the quality of his vision. The Super Highway is a worthwhile vision and has shown that it has the power to attract the required funding and bring the needed development to the state.

What is your vision of your future. Is that vision bold and audacious? Remember that whatever a man can conceive in his heart he can achieve. Go on and see the vision of a better tomorrow and the vision will bring the required provision.

LESSON NUMBER FOUR: A STATUE HAS NEVER BEEN SET UP IN HONOUR OF A CRITIC!

As the President finally comes to visit the state on Tuesday, a few questions keep coming to my mind. I have not been able to answer them and I wish I would get some answers soon.

Some of these questions are “Where will the critics be on the day of the visit?” “Will they be a part of the ceremony or will they just stay back at home?” “Will they be happy about the visit or will they just be sad or just indifferent?”

Whatever the answers are, this saying is apt “A statue has never been set up in honour of a critic!” Do not get me wrong, there is room for constructive criticism in sustainable democracy, and this can help a leader evaluate his actions.

But some people just give me the impression they are out to make this administration fail. The development of Cross River State is a collective project and all hands must be on deck to achieve this.

Let this be a clarion call to all to make the success of the state project a priority. If we must criticize, we must do so constructively. For the benefit of doubt, constructive criticism is defined by dictionary.com as criticism or advice that is useful and intended to help or improve something, often with an offer of possible solutions.

Do not waste your precious time criticizing people’s actions and inactions. Spend more time creating solutions to the myriad challenges that face the society today. Your success is in the solutions not in the criticism. Someday, a statue will be set up in your honour.

LESSON NUMBER FIVE: I BELONG TO EVERYBODY AND TO NOBODY

This is a very important lesson in leadership. A leader must understand that a person does not need to be in his camp to support his vision. In fact it is wrong to presume that everyone in the other camp will oppose your development proposition. It is beautiful to see people cooperate across political lines for the development of the nation.

This is also a lesson in the reverse; it is wrong for some people to think that because they belong to a different political party they must fight every initiative of the state governor. Cross River State is our state and we must work together to build it. Only one person can be governor per time and when that one person is at the helm of affairs, we must all support him to succeed.

In line with this, I will use this opportunity to appreciate this glaring leadership quality in President Mohammadu Buhari, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As he said in his inauguration speech, “I belong to everybody and to nobody” he has demonstrated by this act that he is a true leader and is committed to achieving a paradigm shift in leadership in Nigeria.

Keep your focus on the things that bring unity and not on the things that bring disunity. If your dream is big enough and your vision is clear enough, they will make even your enemy to work with you. Cooperate with all but give yourself wholly to none. This is the secret of success.

CONCLUSION

These are just a few of many lessons in leadership we can learn from the visit of the President to Cross River State which is billed for Tuesday 20th October, 2015. As the President performs the ground breaking and departs, let us put these lessons to practice and see how we will begin to succeed in our lives individually and collectively.

Most importantly, let us all cooperate and work together to make Cross River State succeed.

Kind Regards.

Emmanuel Etim is a development consultant based in Nigeria, (emmanuel.etim22@gmail.com)

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EAU Undie

President Muhamadu Buhari loves Cross River State, a lot! Cross River State was the second state he visited on his campaign trail prior to the election that held early this year. It was not an accident.

That is what he wanted to do. When the President loves you, he doesn’t hide it. If he doesn’t like you, he also doesn’t hide it. He has gone down in history as one heck of a President who loves Cross River to the extent the State became one of the major reasons if not the first, why he was removed from office in a Coup d’etat in August 1985 that brought in Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. Let’s take it step by step.

On December 31, 1983, some vibrant, young, senior officers of the Nigerian Army overthrew Alhaji Shehu Shagari-led democratically elected government that saw the first entrance of Major General Muhammadu Buhari, then, the General Officer Commanding, 3rd Armored Division, Jos.

That coup was managed by Muhammadu Buhari, the infamous IBB, one Brigadier Ibrahim Bako, Brigadier Sani Abacha and the venerable Brigadier Tunde Idagbon. Let me be clear early on here that these were the same ‘boys’ who were recurrent decimals in all the coups in Nigeria prior to and including this one that saw Buhair taking the reins of power.

On ascension to power, all of them became holders of key positions at the Supreme Military Council, the highest decision-making body of junta. Let me make another statement here that the members of this group of officers were involved in nearly all the coups in Nigeria.

When Buhari was sworn into office, one of the first assignments he undertook was a visit to Cross River State early in 1984 at the invitation of the then military governor Brigadier General Dan Patrick Archibong who served from January 1984 to 1986. As a side, Archibong died in 1990, three years after his tenure in Cross River State.

Be informed at this point also that Dr. Mike Ogar, a strong APC member from Bekwara LGA served under Dan Archibong as the then Commissioner for Commerce and industry, the tenure that did midwifed the birth of the then Cooperative Bank, given to Akwa Ibom after the division of the then Cross River State into Akwa Ibom and Cross River.

When Buhari visited the Newsprint, folk tale has it that a telegraph was sent to Dodan Baracks, Lagos (of fond memories) instructing for preparations to be made for immediate resumption of production at the Oku Iboku newsprint mill.

Then, the number of the most popular newspapers in Nigeria was about twenty. Of this number, only about six were privately owned, the rest were owned by mostly the State Governments. Of that number, the National Concord and Guardian were two of the most well circulated brands.

Buhari took interest in the media and newspaper publication because never in the history of Nigeria did the country register such level of proliferation of newspapers. In fact, Section 120 of the 1982 Electoral Act established the National Advisory Council (NAC) to particularly advise on the government-own mass media. Actually, the Federal government did not quite own any media house of its own.

What they mostly did was to buy off a majority shareholding in some newspapers of choice and influence them politically. Then, newspapers were owned mostly for political reasons, to be able to influence the civil society mostly where socio-political and economic issues were involved.

Buhari came into power knowing that the media was very powerful. A significant example was the National Concord that was said to have predominantly influenced the second republic election and in fact, subsequently led to the downfall of that same democratic dispensation.

That indirectly means the media facilitated the coup of 1983 that ushered in General Muhammadu Buhari. Some of the newspapers that were in circulation then were the Satellite, Daily Nation, Guardian, Eagle, Okigwe Voice, People’s News, Weekly Democrat(which came in briefly in 1984 but didn’t sustain operations), Trumpet, Echo, Daily News, Advocate, Record, Stamp, Premier, Nigerian Call, Hope, the Daily Times, Graphic, Sun and National Concord.

When Buhari took over however, only three Newspapers sustained operations. These were The Guardian, the National Concord and Satellite. The Satellite was owned by Jim Nwobodo. The National Concord was owned by MKO Abiola. And the Guardian was owned by Alex Uruemu Ibru. It was rumored in fact, that MKO Abiola funded the coup that brought Buhari into power on that fateful day in 1983.

The turning point was with the resumption of operations at Oku Iboku mills. Importation licenses for newsprint materials for these newspaper owners were going to be revoked to enable our indigenous company operate healthily economically. This is exactly the instructions Buhari left with Dodan Baracks for commissioning preparations to start before he even got back to Lagos.

True to his words, a few weeks after he returned from then Cross River State, the lights and the switches were on in Oku Iboku and the first newsprint was rolled out. Operations started. But this was the beginning of more events in the coming days. Shortly after rolling out the long-awaited products from the mill, further importation of newsprint was completely banned.

Following the ban on newsprint importation, the Nigerian Newsprint Manufacturing Company (NNMC) targeted a capacity of 100,000 tons of newsprint a year. This saw to the reduction of newsprint import to 17.5% by 1986 and 12.5% by 1987 and by the following year, 1988, there was no more newsprint importation into Nigeria.

Production targeted exports also to earn foreign reserves for the country. So actually, the President, Muhammadu Buhari understands the economics of production and transportation. That is why it did not take him much to understand why he must personally be in Cross River State for this historic event. Sadly, by 1993, production stopped at the mill. This was the time IBB was in power.

The reason was that government had no money to refurbish the production equipment neither would they sustain the purchase of the raw materials required in production. With the closure of the mill in 1993, Nigeria spent over N27B on newsprint import between 1998 and 2002 alone (Makinde, 2004).

Today, that figure stands at N150B. It is worthy of note at this point that the closure of the newsprint mill was for a completely political reason not economic or financial. You will understand that very shortly.

With the revocation of the newsprint import licenses, newspaper houses were all expected to buy from Oku Iboku. But MKO Abiola still imported what was at this point contraband under the auspice that he had already commenced importation under Shagari’s civilian administration’s approval.

Of course, this reason tendered was rejected by the military administration of Buhari and so every single one of the imports was seized by the military regime and the materials shared among those media houses in which the government had a stake.

Recall that MKO Abiola financed the coup that brought in Buhari. Recall that the Head of State decided to stop the importation of newsprint and compelled the patronization of our own products here in Oku Iboku.

Be informed at this point that Major General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida was a tight friend of MKO Abiola. All this drama continued back and forth while MKO Abiola covertly plotted with IBB against then GMB to stage a coup in the earliest possible time in order to get rid of his nightmarish accomplice-turned-renegade.

Epilogue:

This piece says a lot. Some of the implications of the meanings hidden in this piece are extreme secrets that you don’t want to know. As a matter of fact, now President Buhari is fully guided by this history in almost everything he is doing today, to those of us who understand this history and what it means.

Just to smoothen the conclusion of this complex expose, on August 27, 1985, Ibrahim Babangida overthrew Muhammadu Buhari. Recall that there was not a single bloodshed during that coup. From my standpoint, it was deliberate as long as GMB was not going to put up a fight, no blood was going to be shed.

Recall that last year, President Buhari said (according to media information) that he was aware IBB was plotting to overthrow him. I think he must have been aware – why not?

Remember they had been partners in this coup business since Aguiyi Ironsi in 1966. Buhari did not put up any struggle and IBB did not shed any blood.

MKO Abiola climbed to the apex of his wealth and comfort during IBB’s administration. He had great wealth and security as the best friend to IBB at the time. That closeness of MKO Abiola and IBB was what encouraged MKO Abiola to contest the ill-fated election against Alhaji Tofa on June 12, 1993. The rest is history for the enthusiasts.

Application to Today’s Buhari Visit:

To the President, he is replaying an unfinished script that started way back in 1983 and he doesn’t easily forget where his heart is. He will touch down in Calabar today. He will be involved in the ground breaking and historic event. The twist that nobody may be thinking about is the fact that in 1983, the then governor, Dan Archibong invited Buhari to Cross River for economic and industrial reasons.

Today, Buhari is hear at the invitation of HE Senator Ben Ayade for nearly the same reason, the commissioning of a project that can easily trigger a huge level of revolution in Nigeria. I doubt if the planners of this event took this into consideration nor remember that history is replaying itself here.

Further Implication:

The State government needs to quickly revisit its address to the President, Muhammadu Buhari. I dare say anything Cross River asks for, the President will do it. This is because to him, he is replaying a script that not up to five people participating in that event would otherwise have known about or correlated with the 1983 event. Now we all know.

Secondly, the State needs to make a strong point establishing the connectedness of this link to the President directly. If you do that, you are arresting his mental capacities and cuffing his bloated emotions. If you watch carefully, you might catch him expressing those emotions. But I trust my military friends, they know how to pretend and hide what is boiling inside them. He will attempt to hide his feelings.

Thirdly and most importantly, make the President own this project. Make him take it. Make him embellish himself in it. Let him take the glory for this project. Give it to him. And let the State not attempt to share in that temporary elation at all. If the State is able to do this, Buhari, in no small measure will take over and fund this project completely and out rightly.

The State must run its imagination very wildly between now and when Oga arrives. Add anything you can remember to add; anything that can fit into that address paper. Don’t bother if you hand-write it.

Make sure you go there with a million and one items on the check list. Buhari is likely to take on all those issues. This is because he will be more emotionally inclined to associate with Cross River not as a State in which he failed his election but a State with whom he is seriously well-pleased.

Fourthly, Cross River State has lost a lot. I know this one is at the fingertips of the government. Further than that, push the cost back to Oga. This loss is not only Cross River’s lost. Make it the country’s lost.

That is one sure way to make Oga feel the pain. If he feels the pains on this matter, trust me, he will personally take a walk into that UN and collect our Bakassi back.

Don’t sound beggarly. Sound firm, but like a son. At this point, the rest will also be history.

Welcome to Cross River, our Dear President, Mr. Muhammadu Buhari

Long Live Cross River State,

Long Live Nigeria.

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Emmanuel Etim

This week, as we continue our look at the potential of the creative industry for job creation and economic development in Cross River State we will focus how developing the music industry in the state can help achieve these set objectives.

Nigerian music consists of various genres and style, some of which are known worldwide. Little is known about the country’s music history prior to European contact, although bronze carvings dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries have been found depicting musicians and their instruments.

Nigeria’s musical output has achieved international acclaim not only in the fields of folk and popular music, but also Western art music. In Cross River State, folk music has been part of our rich cultural heritage and recently popular music by many creative and talented Cross Riverians.

Cross River has produced many musical stars in Nigeria some of which include Inyang Nta Henshaw, Peter Effiom and Kingsley Burstic Bassey all of blessed memory. In recent times some of our contemporary leading music icons have included Feladey, Sunny Neji and Inyanya to name a few.

There are many other rising music talents in the state despite the challenging environment for growth of the industry in the state. This treatise seeks to encourage the Cross River State Government to support the development of the music industry in the state to create opportunity for more music talents in the state to blossom and contribute to economic development of the state.

Music is a great income earner and a catalyst for job and wealth creation. From song writers or lyricists, to music publishers, composers, producers, music recording and marketing companies, printing companies, CD, VCD, DVD manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of musical recordings, income generation in the music industry is broad-based and far reaching.

Others include dealers on musical instruments, studio and stage sound engineers, musicians, singers, dancers, promoters, talent scouts, entertainment writers and showbiz consultants, stage designers, lighting crew, structural engineers, advertising practitioners, media houses and many more professionals.

The popular music industry in Nigeria as in most parts of the world, hold great economic potentials. In Nigeria, this is testified to by increasing record sales which seems to defy Nigeria’s unstable economy. For example, statistic of record sales in Nigeria shows that in 1981, 4.5million records were sold; in 1986 5.5million; in 1991 8.5million and in 1995, 12 million records were sold nationwide.

Although the social content and context of performance, as well as mode of expression keep changing from one historical period to another, popular music practice has shown great potentials for economic development in the country. This industry if fully tapped, can help position the creative industry as a viable alternative to oil as the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy.

In the recently rebased Nigerian economy, the music industry which is classified under the “Motion pictures, sound recording and music production,” is one of the 13 new activities that have been included in the computation framework. The rebasing exercise shows that this sector of the national economy, which had been hugely underrated over the years, has made a huge leap.

Statistics indicated that the industry, which has a huge following across Africa and beyond, is now worth about N9trillion or 1.2 per cent of GDP. The share of the industry has risen sharply, from its once-insignificant status to become among the first five key sectors in the national economy.

In the light of this, it has become imperative that the Cross River State Government give attention to this important industry with a view to developing it in the state to create jobs for its teeming youths to contribute to economic development of the state.

It is worthy of note that the annual Calabar Festival has created a platform to promote the growth of the music industry in the state. Annually, hundreds of music talents seize the opportunity presented by the Calabar Festival to showcase their talents to the world by performing on the Calabar Festival stage and in the process building up their career.

The state government however must do more to support these budding talents in the state by creating policies, institutions and funding options that will help them grow and become world renowned artiste. A professionalized and institutionalized music industry can provide a sustainable means of economic growth in Cross River State.

Below are a few ways the Cross River State Government can support the growth of the music industry in the state.

First there is a need for specialization in the industry along well defined lines of creativity. The starting point for this will be professional and systematic training either in a formal or informal institution. This calls for the establishment of music academies in Cross River State. This will help in the process of institutionalizing the industry.

If the industry is institutionalized, then youths can be trained to specialize in specific areas like song writing, arrangement and production, music marketing and promotion, artiste management, studio engineering, band management, film music/jingles, performance, music journalism, dance/choreography among other branches of specialization.

Second, there is the need to help the industry evolve and strengthen professional bodies which will standardize and regulate practice. Strengthening professional bodies like PMAN to work to build the music industry in the state, will help it realize its full potentials in fostering economic development and social well being.

Third is the need for government to strengthen the laws and agencies responsible for the fight against piracy. Piracy is one of the major impediments against growth in the music industry in Nigeria. Over the years, efforts to curb piracy in the music industry in Nigeria have been unsuccessful.

The activities of pirates have jeopardized the returns on investments of artistes and producers, thereby undermining the economic rationale for copyright protection, and serving as a disincentive to prospective investors in the sector. This must be dealt with decisively with all stakeholders working hand in hand.

Fourth, the government must draw in investors and partner with them to establish world class music production and marketing outfits in the state to make it easier for artiste to produce and market quality music in Nigeria and beyond.

Often, it is the standard of the studio that determines the quality of the music production. If high quality studios are established in the state, manned by professionals in different fields, the music industry in Cross River State will become one of the leading in Nigeria and will contribute to making the state a preferred destination for music and entertainment tourism.

Fifth and final, government must seek to create conducive environment for the sustainable development of the music industry in the state. This can be achieved by creating incentives in form of tax rebates for investors in the music sector and providing power and Information and communication Technology infrastructure.

CONCLUSION:

Beyond all of these, central to the achievement of the objective of developing the industry in the state is the ability to adapt to new technology, by maximizing the opportunities presented by such technology for the production and profitable distribution of music in the state and beyond.

Emmanuel Etim is a development consultant based in Nigeria (emmanuel.etim22@gmail.com)

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Former Governor Imoke blocked by a presidential security aid from accessing stage at groundbreaking ceremony

The ground breaking of the 260km Super Highway in Cross River state by our amiable President Muhamadu Buhari may have come and gone with a lot of razzmatazz and fanfare, but one event will remain significant and instructive for a long time to come to political players and spectators in the state and that is the shabby treatment given to our own powerful and almighty Sen. Liyel Imoke.

It was reported, with pictures to prove that our former governor was barred from joining other dignitaries on the VIP stage of the event. This will have been unimaginable few months ago when the man still held sway as governor. Imoke for close to two decades bestrode the state political landscape like a colossus.

Within this period he served as Special Adviser to President Obasanjo, Minister and then Governor for two terms. Imoke is a typical politician and a good strategist. In fact, he was once quoted as saying “I eat and sleep with politics.”

He is largely responsible for and likes to be credited with the PDP victory in 1999 that brought in Donald Duke as governor; a reason why Donald recommended him to be Minister instead of Kanu Agabi and when the President insisted it must be Kanu, in compensation, Liyel was made Special Adviser and later Minister.

There was a significant difference between Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke, while Donald was interested in warming himself into the heart of Cross Riverians and by extension Nigerians with his cosmetic projects, Imoke was more interested in controlling the political structures of the State even when not in government.

As governor, Imoke coerced every political structure of the PDP under his control to the extent that it was only one man, Ambassador Sonny Abang, that was bold enough to challenge him for the PDP gubernatorial ticket during his second term bid.

Every known and suspected supporter of Sonny Abang was hounded and ostracized from the so called PDP political family. In fact, Imoke boasted to his friend, Rotimi Ameachi, while the going was still good, that all the opposition party chairmen then were under his payroll.

Aides also capitalized on the governor’s bid to strangulate the system and impose their own personal will on their communities. It was normal to always hear them tell their people “Governor Say, Governor Say” even when the governor did not say anything.

Those seeking elective offices preferred to curry the favor and support of the governor rather than that of their people and electorates that would vote for them and of course, it proved to be a good decision after all, as whoever the governor blessed eventually emerged victorious whether they were popular or not.

During the last Local Government elections, Imoke under the guise of avoiding rancor within the PDP, single-handedly selected all the 18 local government Chairmen, and Councilors in the 196 Wards in the State, all in his bid to strengthen his grip on the political structures of the State.

In the build up to the 2015 governorship elections, Imoke was said to have encouraged so many candidates to throw their hat into the ring only to dump them in the last minute without any sort of compensation, though they had all expended their little resources for campaign.

The same thing happened to aspirants in the other elections. I heard one of the Senatorial aspirants from the North, the other day vowing to report Imoke to his dead grandfather over the ill treatment meted out to him.

Today just few months after he left power all the purported influence of Imoke seems to have vanished like dust swept by the wind to the extent that he could be meted the kind of treatment he received during the ground breaking ceremony and none of the numerous Imoke boys in government including the present Speaker could raise an eyebrow.

His birthday that hitherto had our facebook pages and other media outlets flooded with birthday wishes has come and gone and we could barely see any birthday wish from his hitherto numerous admirers and supporters.

Today, Ayade is governor and the early signs are that he wants to warm himself into the heart of the people like Donald Duke with his signature projects and still coerce the political structure of the state including that of the opposition under control like his predecessor. While the former is good the latter is disastrous.

Ayade has systematically retired most of the politicians that had controlled the PDP from 1999 to date whom he may not be able to control and has rather raised a new set of leaders who will form his own army.

He didn’t just form his own new army; he also increased their size by increasing the number of political appointments to be shared. In the name of forming a unity government, Ayade extended appointments to leaders of opposition parties just to stifle opposition like his predecessor did.

Ayade should learn from the mistakes of his predecessor and note that power is like a pendulum that cannot remain in the hands of one person forever and Cross River politicians will always submit their loyalty to where the power is, notwithstanding whose ox is gored.

Ayade should focus on delivering on his campaign promises and allow the democratic processes in the state strive. Starting from the next local government elections, the people should be allowed to choose their leaders in a very competitive and transparent environment.

Leaders should emerge as a result of their hard work and competence not because of their hypocrisy. Only then can he win the respect and love of the people including that of members of the opposition.

Generations after generations will always respect and honor him like the Yorubas do to Awo and the Hausas to Ahmadu Bello, even when they are no more. That is where true power lies.

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BEING THE TEXT OF A SPEECH DELIVERED BY MR. EMMANUEL ETIM, CHAIRMAN NIGERIA YOUTH CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, CROSS RIVER STATE; ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2015 YOUNG BUSINESS ICONS AWARDS/SUMMIT HELD AT THE CULTURAL CENTER, CALABAR ON 31st OCTOBER, 2015.

Emmanuel Etim speaking at the event

INTRODUCTION:

There is a global consensus that young people are the greatest assets any state could rely on for meaningful development. The underdevelopment of this demographic segment portends huge dangers for Cross River State. It is worrisome that youths in Cross River State have long battled the unwholesome impacts of unemployment, poverty and underdevelopment.

The challenge of youth unemployment is one of the biggest problems facing our state. With limited opportunities for employment by the government and few corporate organizations in the state, entrepreneurship becomes a viable alternative for job creation and poverty reduction in the state.

With youth accounting for over 50 percent of the state’s population, it is imperative that policies, programs and processes are actively set in place to promote youth entrepreneurship as a panacea for underdevelopment of the state. This will be the focus of this treatise.

WHAT IS YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND WHAT ARE ITS GAINS:

In spite of the increasing recognition of entrepreneurship as a source of job creation, empowerment and economic dynamism in a rapidly globalizing world, there has been no systematic attempt to look at it from a youth angle.

The tendency has been either to subsume the youth into the general adult population or to ignore their efforts to forge a livelihood through enterprise activities. This has resulted in the lack of an adequate understanding of the potential benefits of youth entrepreneurship as a means of improving youth livelihoods.

In this treatise, we will define ‘youth entrepreneurship’ as the “practical application of enterprising qualities, such as initiative, innovation, creativity, and risk-taking into the work environment (either in self-employment or employment in small start-up firms), using the appropriate skills necessary for success in that environment and culture”.

It is now widely accepted that there are many good reasons to promote entrepreneurship among young people. One key reason for promoting youth entrepreneurship is that it creates employment for the young persons who own the businesses and others whom they employ.

Youth entrepreneurship promotes innovation and resilience as it encourages young people to find new solutions, ideas and ways of doing things through experience-based learning.

In certain circumstances, young entrepreneurs may be particularly responsive to new economic opportunities and trends. This is especially important given the on-going globalisation process.

Youth entrepreneurship provides valuable goods and services to society and helps to meet growing demand for these goods and services. This contributes to the growth in the economic sector of the state

The final reason is that youth entrepreneurship helps address some of the socio-psychological problems, crime, vices and delinquency that arise from joblessness. This in turn helps improve security and safety in business environment in the state.

WHERE IS YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN CROSS RIVER STATE AT PRESENT?

The Cross River State Government in 2010 established the Micro Finance and Enterprise Development Agency (MEDA) which is saddled with responsibility of promoting the growth of Micro Small and Medium Scale enterprises in Cross River State.

In working to achieve set objectives in the state the agency on behalf of the Cross River State government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bank of Industry to receive for onward lending about N250 million which was complemented with another N250 million by the Cross River State government.

In 2014 the Central Bank of Nigeria launched the N220 Billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development MSME Fund. The fund was established to channel long-term, low-interest funds to the MSME sector of the Nigeria economy.

Cross River State Government keying into this initiative signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bank to draw down the sum of N200 million for onward lending to interested youth entrepreneurs in the state.

The Cross River State Government has also partnered with the Central Bank of Nigeria to establish the CBN South-South Entrepreneurship Development Center in Calabar. This centre has trained thousands of youth in entrepreneurship.

Even with all these achievements, only a few youths have been able to access funding to start and grow their businesses in the state. A lot more still needs to be done then to promote youth entrepreneurship in Cross River State.

I will attempt to take a look at this in order to chart a way forward for the development of this opportunity.

WHAT MORE CAN BE DONE TO PROMOTE YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN CROSS RIVER STATE:

I will start with the need for a clear policy by the Cross River State Government on youth entrepreneurship with the unveiling of a blueprint and the Cross River State House of Assembly passing a bill that will make this formal and legal in the state.

Upon achieving this, the Cross River State Government will then partner of the 18 Local Government Areas of the state to unveil a state wide Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme which will create an opportunity for millions of youth to be trained, to access funding and start their Small Scale enterprises.

I must emphasize that if we must achieve success, the state must establish Youth Entrepreneurship Development Centers YEDCs and Youth Entrepreneurship Incubation Centers YEICs in all the 18 Local Government Areas in the state and not just in Calabar the state capital.

In addition to these, the Cross River State Government must mainstream youth entrepreneurship development initiatives into its development programs. Government must also make entrepreneurship education compulsory in secondary and tertiary institutions in the state.

CONCLUSION:

In concluding, given the growing importance of youth entrepreneurship as a source of new jobs and economic development in Cross River State, all hands must be on deck to ensure that policies and programmes that will promote this in the state is supported. The Youth Entrepreneurship scheme if properly planned and executed, will.

Emmanuel Etim is a development consultant based in Nigeria.(emmanuel.etim22@gmail.com)

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Dr. Linda Ayade, Wife of the Governor of Cross River State

BEING THE OPENING REMARKS BY HER EXCELLENCY, DR. (MRS.) LINDA AYADE, THE WIFE OF THE GOVERNOR OF CROSS RIVER STATE ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2015 YOUNG BUSINESS ICONS SUMMIT AND AWARD HELD AT THE CULTURAL CENTER COMPLEX, CALABAR ON OCTOBER 31ST 2015.

I feel quite honoured to be called upon to open this occasion. I want to welcome you all to this event of the 2015 Young Business Icons Summit and Award ceremony.

I wholeheartedly congratulate the management of CrossRiverWatch under the headship of Agba Jalingo and thank you immensely for choosing Cross River State, your home to host this event.

It is a thing of pride to see more of our sons from Cross River State distinguishing themselves in various trending ventures. Jalingo has carved a niche for himself in the media and publishing business and his personal achievement in this regard has given impetus and credibility to the awards.

I congratulate you for realizing that it is not enough to be successful in one’s chosen endeavour but that any real success must impact other people and outlive the achiever as well. Peter Drucker aptly puts it thus; ‘There is no success without a successor.

I look forward to the news that this summit will eventually produce new trailblazers as the profiles and business ideas of some of these contestants are quite impressive. My conclusion is that they have made the important positive decision that ‘No’ cannot be the final answer that this life has to offer them.

The era when people thought that business and trade were reserved for those who had no skills or who never did well in class is over. We live in a time when education and innovation has become the fulcrum of business and only those who dare to take the bull by the horn can achieve any meaningful success.

Today Cross River State is governed by a man who has successfully combined academics and business as main areas of operation. This governor, my dear husband, Professor Senator Ben Ayade, is a testimony to the fact that one does not have to abandon education in order to pursue entrepreneurship. They both actually go together.

Finally, I have the challenging words of Dr. Steve Maraboli, speaker and bestselling author of ‘Life, The Truth, and Being Free’. He reminds us that life is not a cruise; we have to dare to achieve. He says;

“When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.
When there is darkness, dare to be the first to shine a light.
When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it.
When something seems difficult, dare to do it anyway.
When life seems to beat you down, dare to fight back.
When there seems to be no hope, dare to find some.
When you are feeling tired, dare to keep going.
When times are tough, dare to be tougher.
When love hurts you, dare to love again.
When someone is hurting, dare to help them heal.
When another is lost, dare to be the first to extend a hand.
When you cross paths with another, dare to make them smile.
When you feel great, dare to help someone else feel great too.
When the day is ended, dare to feel as you have done your best.
Dare to be the best you can.
At all times, dare to be!”

On this note, therefore, I dare to declare open the 2015 Young Business Icons Summit and Awards to the glory of God and the benefit of mankind!.

Thank you.

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Venatius Ikem

For over two months the two local governments of Obudu and Obanlikwu have been completely cut off from the national grid of electricity supply.

Reason: to punish them for daring to complain and protest over the overbearing and fraudulent activities of the staff of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company PHEDC, that services the area!

About two months ago, in a rare and unanimous decision of the various trade unions, communities, traditional rulers and all organised groups in Obudu, it was agreed that enough is enough and they should call the bluff of the staff of the electricity distribution company and formally protest the arbitrary, oppressive over billing of their communities amidst the abysmal supply of the product.

It has been observed over the years that hiding under the guise of estimated billing (i.e. billing without metres), the electricity company has steadily raised the bills by over 500% within a very short period.

It is worst that while they have lived under this yoke, actual supply of electricity only happens when bills are due for collection.

In other words it is usually the last two to three days of the month or whenever they are about to serve the bills that some light is seen.

Indeed I am witness to a joke in my village that predicts light using the calendar accordingly.

Once it is 27/28 of the month, the villagers will tell you ‘NEPA will soon give light! And of course their bill. Thereafter, they will have to endure darkness for another 30 days or so until the next billing period.

This has been the state of electricity supply in the area that led to the showdown with the Port Harcourt disco in the hope that the company will look into their plight and improve their services.

I will later publish a full text of the documented protest and request to the company which accompanied a peaceful March by all the organisations mentioned above with unanimous support of the entire communities of Obudu and duly observed on invitation by the Nigeria Police, the SSS, civil defence etc.

Alas, the reaction of the company was swift: all communities in Obudu and unfortunately Obanlikwu which lies after Obudu were cut off the grid. Light has not flicked for a second since that peaceful protest!

In a democracy where citizens, deprived of the best of representation, sometimes feel free to find their voices through peaceful means in this manner but are brazenly intimidated into submission, what statement are we making?

Of course most of the political elite reside everywhere except home and hardly care while on an occasional weekend visit! The truth is that small businesses collapse and poverty deepens.

I am informed that the State Governor who happens to come from Obudu had not long before this protest promised the community in a pulpit that he would change his name if by December 2015 there is no uninterrupted electricity supply in the town!

It is ironic that two months after that vow, even the little there used to be has been taken away!

The citizens live, pray and wait hopefully for December to come soon, so that their son will not change his name even in this era of CHANGE!

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Ukung Alawa – dreaming of a super highway to replace this bad one?

As usual, the excitement whenever the thought of a super highway that will lead me straight to northern Cross River (my favorite part of the state) sneaks to my head, I smile uncontrollably.

Myself and a lot other Cross Riverians wake and pray for the actualization of this dream. We have gone as far as dreaming of the road whose ground breaking was barely two weeks ago.

We don’t even know how long it will take but we are positive that it will come through.

Personally, I see myself taking a stroll through the highway, boasting to the world about where I’m actually from, of course the state will become so busy we will have business investors and tourists, or at least that’s what we have been told.

I plan on taking a course on Tourism to help me become an instructor, an entrepreneur and an independent youth (that’s what the new government says I should be) right?

But our biggest fear is, will we be alive to use this super highway that leaves us day dreaming?

There is a rude awakening to the fact that the only road, which we still use lay in shambles and take lives every day.

I prefer to hide in my home and avoid the road which is literally fighting with itself, this fight has gone from peaceful potholes to angry breakages, divisions and war.

The lonely path has eaten up itself so well, you can fall off if your legs are not strong.

To our dismay, the rivers beside have joined in this cheer, they come out slowly and drag road users forcing them to drink to death of their brown contents, and passers by groan in pity.

This road has resorted to taking innocent lives, but what about those whose source of livelihood depends on movement through that road?

Should there also wait till 3 to 4 years for the super highway?

You see why I say we will all die before the completion of the road?

In one way or the other for some reason, people need to use this road.

But things are running at a pace where if accidents don’t kill us, our butts will get roasted on our seats for at least eleven hours, or we will have miscarriages, or even serious migraines before we get to our destination, we will also be forced to learn annoying and senseless dance steps in a moving vehicle.

Should we endure all of these while waiting for a super highway or we should hold a peaceful meeting with this road and grant half of its desires so we can manage it till our day dream becomes reality?

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Princewill Odidi

1. My memories growing up in four corners Ikom are always fresh. Not the urban four corners of today. I mean the four corners of those days when we looked forward and celebrated catholic bazaar with pump, when the only public television was often mounted at then Mercantile Bank for the public to catch up with state news, the four corners were state ministry of information organize public cinema to update residents of the activities of government, the four corners were the army barracks was stationed right across the catholic church by Govisco, yes, that four corners, it was once upon a time.

2. My memories of four corners are always fresh. The four corners were as children then in primary school four corners, we mimic children from Army school with a mockery song which goes this way: “Army school, crow crow for corner nyash, langer for moto”. Remember those songs then? That’s the four corners of my childhood, in similar vein, children from Army primary school will respond to us with a mimic song that goes this way “Presbyterian rotten cassava allele comcom”. That is my child hood four corners, once upon a time.

3. My memories of four corners are always fresh. The four corners were students from holy child secondary school will sing and dance on childrens day celebration, a chiding song that often goes this way: “Hochard, hochard, hochard girls are heavy chicks………..how can I leave my nice school and go to velos…. You think am so stupid to do that” Remember those songs? Yes four corners of my childhood, those days when Govisco will always stage fights with Velos over football matches, that was my four corners, today, I call it once upon a time.

4. My memories of four corners are always fresh, four corners of the 70s, and early 80s, four corners then was a big village where everyone knows everyone. Remember the Miki Miki bread? The streets padded with brown mud as we walk with care, the public taps? Remember then when Mallams carry water on their shoulder for sale? We called them “ Maruah” Gone are the days. The memories are still fresh, that’s four corners, once upon a time.

5. My memories of four corners are still fresh. Remember when ATT an American company came to lay telephone lines? Remember the first day NEPA electricity came to four corners? It was just like yesterday. The first time electricity was turned on, how as children we screamed, the skies were brightened in our small eyes, the rooms sparkled, next day we talk about it at school, at church and as we played. We had so much hope of a better Nigeria, but again, it was once upon a time.

6. My memories of four corners are always fresh. Before our childish eyes, four corners transformed from a big village to a small city. Before our little eyes, Okada became a means of transport, the Ikom- Ogoja road was graded, the Ikom- Obudu road was tarred too. The military barracks moved from four corners to Edor village, yes, that’s the four corners of yesterday. As our new city blossomed, a new market and motor park were built at Calabar road, together with a new stadium constructed. This is four corners of yesterday, once upon a time.

7. My memories of four corners, as the military was relocated to newly built barracks, the civilian government came on board. Then came the campaigns that ushered in Shagari government. We had NPN, UPN and NPP. These were the popular parties. As children, we then preferred UPN Awolowo’s party, we were told it will bring free education, but our parents preferred NPN Shagari’s party, of which Wayas, Offoboche, Clement Isong were great party men. Party politics was fun, remember when Awolowo’s helicopter landed on Velos Secondary School for campaign? That was the four corners I can recollect, once upon a time.

8. I owe this narrative to younger people to impress upon their unassuming minds, that once upon a time, Nigeria was good. Once upon a time, political party was not just about money, it was about service.

9. Few months ago, I visited four corners, it was obvious, and everywhere had changed. Today, it is a growing city. I walked down the streets towards Ochedore Street, I went up Obudu road, and later visited my Alma Mata, primary school four corners. As I walked past the road, I could recall some structures, some improved, and others dilapidated. All I could silently say, was once upon a time.

10. Today living in the Whiteman’s world and familiar with the Whiteman’s mannerisms, I cannot easily wish away my humble beginnings in the streets of four corners. But to appease my curiosity, and refresh my memories, I will gladly say, Once upon a time!

Princewill Odidi is a social commentator writing from Atlanta USA. (princewillodidi@yahoo.com)

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BEING A TEXT OF A CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING PAPER PRESENTED BY SOLOMON E. ASHA, SA MEDIA TO GOVERNOR BEN AYADE, AT A WORKSHOP ORGANIZED BY CrossRiverWatch FOR THEIR REPORTERS, OWNERS OF ONLINE MEDIA PLATFORMS AND THEIR REPORTERS, ON THE TOPIC: ‘BASIC TOOLS OF NEWS WRITING’, HELD AT THE MINI CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE CrossRiverWatch CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, MARIAN ROAD BY RABANA ROUNDABOUT, CALABAR ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2015.

Solomon Asha

INTRODUCTION:

I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the Publisher/Editor-In-Chief and staff of the CrossRiverWatch, for finding me fit to train the upcoming generation who are presently active in the business of the “New Media” popularly referred to as the “online or social media”, on the important topic, “the fundamentals of news writing, in the other word, basic tools of news writing.

The irrefutable and immutable fact that the future of the 21st century and beyond lies with the new media, and certainly not with the traditional media cannot be over-flogged, bearing in mind that the new media can reach a global audience just by a snap of the finger, and instantaneously attracting a global reaction within few minutes of sending out the news or information.

It is a reality that we are moving forward and not backward in the field of journalism. It is also true that journalism appreciates appropriate innovations as well as moves with the changing tides, but does not forget the beautiful and long lasting things and the order of the past which helped in making the profession respected globally as the undisputable fourth Estate of the Realm. These basic order, direction and lay down procedure of news writing, if dropped on the premise of moving with time, then it will amount to destroying the very foundation of the profession, which will reduce news writing to mere prose writing.

SOURCING, GATHERING AND WRITING OF NEWS:

Before a journalist or a newspaper publishes those stories in the newspaper, magazine, online platform or broadcast a news item in the radio and television, or YouTube, a lot of work, energy and time is put into sourcing, gathering and piecing together of the information into coherent and readable news item.

Take note that while some news line or angle take just few hours, a day or two to obtain information from all sides involved, others take six months a year and more than a year or two to get at all the facts.

In all, don’t rush to the press or to publish on your online platform without satisfying your conscience that you have done a thorough job and that there will be no unnecessary legal tussle arising from your report because of your carelessness or the urge to get a byline.

For example, you are required to cover activities of a drug cartel, cover a hotel infested with legions of commercial sex workers, how are you to behave as well as go about obtaining your story from such dangerous dens/cartels and brothel?

WHAT IS NEWS?

The current word, ‘news’ is said to be traced to late middle age English of the 14thcentury. It is also a plural form of the adjective ‘new’, or ‘new thing’, which is said to have been transformed to ‘news’ in English by the help of French word, ‘nouveau’ which in its plural feminine form becomes ‘nouvelles’, meaning, ‘news’. Then, the English equivalent of news was ‘tidings’.

According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, News is simply a report of recent events, previously unknown information or something having a specified influence or effect.

News is reported through the newspapers, news magazines, radio/television, websites platforms/YouTube and other media.

In journalism, it is normally stated that “when dog bites man, it is not news, but when man bites dog, it is news”. This simply tells us what constitute news. News is therefore simply the unusual.

For example, it is a normal and natural thing that a dog bites a man and as a reporter you decide to report or publish that a dog bite a man in a banner headline, you just succeeded in shooting yourself in the foot because nobody will buy that paper or read that your online news, or take you serious.

However when you have a banner headline in your online platform that reads, “man 65 chops off a dog’s leg with his teeth”, it is news and many will want to read to know what happened because it is unusual for a man to bite a dog.

Note however that the usual can become unusual when a particular dog became a loose cannon going from place to place and may have bitten over a hundred victims before being gun down by the Police.

Again, when a man provides feeding allowance for his wife, it is not news, but when he decides to have intercourse with her in public, in broad day light, it is news worthy, because it is unusual.

There are so many other examples directing us to what constitute news, you might have heard the popular saying among journalists that it is news when it bleeds. News consists of the following elements:

IMPACT:

By impact, we mean the number of persons affected in the incident, the number of policemen demoted and the number of Naval boats sunk by enemy soldiers etc. The impact of any story is dependent upon the number of victims or beneficiaries involved, among others.

PROXIMITY:

It is a normal thing with humans that we are more concerned with what is closer to us more than what is a far distance from us. For example, 250 persons died in a plane crash in Nigeria, and another 450 died also in a plane crash in the United States, it is certain that the plane crash in Nigeria will receive a front page position among Nigerian newspapers ahead of the USA plane crash.

TIMELINESS:

The fresher any news the better. Hard news that comes few minutes or an hour to the deadline is better appreciated than big news that happened a week or more ago.

PROMINENCE:

Members of the public care more about what happens to or with a President of a country, a celebrity in any field etc than what happens to an ordinary man on the street.

NOVELTY:

The unusual, bizarre, and once in a life time event has more news value than an everyday occurrence. The more bizarre and unusual the information, the more news worthy it is.

For example, if aliens from other planets popularly referred to as Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO), cruise in their saucer-shape aircraft, and hover around Calabar before landing at Marian road by IBB road, and emerge with their green, bulky eyes and big heads, it will certainly be the screaming headline of all the major newspapers and the online media.

CONFLICTS:

Wars, crimes, sex and political scandals, etc constitute major sources of our daily news.

RELEVANCE:

The story which is reported must be the one that has great effect on the reader or viewership.

USEFULNESS:

News items are reported or grouped according to some specialized areas such as sports, politics, info tech, business, tourism/leisure, lifestyle among others to give the readers what they need.

HUMAN INTEREST:

A human interest story is worth reporting. A young boy who manufactured an helicopter, a rural man who withstood poverty etc are stories that will also be interesting to the public even if they do not meet our other criteria for news.

THE KERNELS OF NEWS WRITING:

ACCURACY:

A story lacking in accuracy though very creative and compelling is as worthless as a used tissue paper because a story that is untrue erodes public confidence on such media platform. The public deserves the right to receive unbiased and accurate information from the media to help them make informed decisions in an election, concerning government policy on education, health, welfare, among other issues.

An inaccurate and misleading news report concerning a government policy and programme can cause social unrest and social disobedience against a government, leading to a breakdown of law and order in the society. Accuracy of a news item is non-negotiable in the media industry. It is unethical, unprofessional and suicidal to mislead and misinform.

BREVITY:

Your news story should go straight to the point, ensuring that each word performs a job. Avoid repetition and beating around the bush in news reporting. The most important facts should be brought to the lead, the second and third paragraphs, forming an inverted pyramid.

CLARITY:

To ensure clarity in your news story, you must first understand your subject, that is, the subject you are writing on so you don’t leave any doubt in the minds of members of the public. Carefully sift through the materials you had gathered to obtain the basics facts that you can use in the lead; trying as much as possible to avoid jargon.

OBJECTIVITY AND FAIRNESS TO ALL INVOLVED IN YOUR STORY/REPORTAGE:

Though the question of objectivity is a controversial one in the field of journalism, it is professionally and ethically mandatory that a reporter should be objective and fair to all concerned in the report.

The reporter’s duty is to find out or go for the truth and report it as it is not minding who is involved. It is possible for the reporter to be fair to all by recognizing his own personal biases but consciously reflect the views of all concerned no matter how hurting and uncomfortable the facts, but equally and consciously avoiding the use of inflammatory, abusive and degrading words.

As a reporter, you have the absolute and moral obligation to ensure your report is balanced and fair to all sides. For example, an informant provided documents to you showing a shoddy transaction worth billions of naira involving a top member of a management team of a company, what do you do?

Do you just rush to publish your story or do you take the pain to get to the person alleged to have been involved in such scam, and also carry out your own personal independent investigations? You must as a necessity hear the other person or the story will lack fairness and cannot be said to be balanced.

WHAT IS OBJECTIVE REPORTING?

In a paper presented by the Managing Editor, Northern Operations, The Nation Newspaper, Yusuf Alli on “ objective reporting: panacea for free and fair election”, he quoted Tony Rogers to have stated that “objectivity means that when covering hard news, reporters don’t convey their own feelings, biases or prejudices in their stories. They accomplish this by writing stories using a language that is neutral and avoids characterizing people or institutions in ways good or bad.

Similarly, Wikipedia maintains that journalistic objectivity can refer to fairness, disinterestedness, factuality and non partisanship, but most often encompasses all of these qualities.

Journalistic objectivity is when a journalist is not on either side of the argument. It is when the facts and only the facts are reported for what they are.

In the case of objectivity, I personally belong to the school of thought that posits that it is impossible to be completely objective, as even the mere selection of a particular word over the other clearly indicates subjectivity. Your judgment enters the story by the selection of such words.

BASIC TOOLS TO USE WHILE WRITING A LEAD:

It is professionally correct that every news story must contain what is traditionally known in journalism as the “five Ws and one H”. It is true that all of these may not be covered in the lead, but could come into the story along the line.

They are:

WHO- are the people that are involved in the news story?
WHAT-is it that happened?
WHEN-did it happen?
WHERE-did it take place?
WHY-did the event take place, the cause? and
HOW-did it happened?

However, bear in mind that the two most important of the six elements are HOW and WHAT.

THE GATEKEEPER:

All journalists play the role of a gatekeeper by deciding what goes into the newspaper, the various pages, TV and Radio, magazine and online platforms. The roving reporter is the first gatekeeper and down to the last man, editor or the editor-in-chief.

THE LEAD:

The lead is the first word, sentence and paragraph of a news story; that can some time make up of two or three paragraphs. The lead must be written in such a way to attract the attention of readers, wet their appetite to read on to the end as you tell most of the story in it. A novel for instance leads the reader to a climax; on the other hand, news story leads the reader from the climax to the less important, making news story writing to be in the shape of an inverted pyramid.

The lead should be short and not more than 35 words; while avoiding starting with date, time day or place. It is normally most appropriate for the reporter to place his/her emphasis on the action words of who or what.

Make sure that from the first paragraph to the end, there is smooth transition from one paragraph to the next.

HEADLINE:

Headlines are short, punchy and attractive. They draw the attention of prospective readers to the story. A headline is always written in active voice, in present tense, which emphasizes ‘now’, ‘current’ and not something in the past.

STEER CLEAR OF FALLACIES:

Hasty generalization: is a conclusion anchored on insufficient evidence. Example, deaths from flooding have doubled in the past four years in Calabar, therefore more resident of Calabar are dying from flooding than ever.

Non Sequitur (Latin word for “does not follow”) is a conclusion that does not follow logically from preceding statements or hinges on irrelevant data. Example, “the man loves hanging around women, therefore he will be excellent in bed”. This is a fallacious statement because hanging around women has no connection to how a man performs in bed.

Circular Reasoning: is restating the conclusion in different language instead of supporting it with evidence. Example, “non members of ACROJ should not be allowed to come to ACROJ office because ACROJ office should be for ACROJ members only”.

Faulty Cause and Effect Reasoning: faulty assumption that because the second event follows the first, the first is the cause of the second. It leaps to an unjustified conclusion, just like the non sequitur. Example, “since Agba Jalingo established CrossRiverWatch three years ago and ushered in different online platforms in Cross River, there has been unrestrained exposure of activities of politicians in the state by these platforms, so Jalingo should be blamed.

Either…Or Fallacy: Is the suggestion that only two alternatives exist, when in actual sense, there are more. Example, “either the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) brings back Stephen Keshi as Coach or Nigeria will not make it to 2018 World Cup”. The fact is that Nigeria can still make it to the world cup without Stephen Keshi.

False Analogy: Is the false assumption that because two things are alike in one sense or aspect, they must be alike in all other qualities. Example, “if the world has achieved marvellous breakthrough in the manufacturing of weapons of mass destruction, the world should equally be able to find permanent cure to all diseases plighting mankind”.

The truth is that both the breakthrough in the manufacturing of weapons of mass destruction and the inability to provide permanent cure to all diseases in the world are scientific challenges, but are quite different.

ARGUMENTUM AD BACULUM (APPEAL TO FORCE):

This argument is based on threat of force or punishment to compel the other person to accept your views by exposing the consequences of not doing so or attempting to go on with his or their position/demand.

Example, “Mallam Adamu emphatically stated that the federal government should not listen to those agitating for the state of Biafra because they lack the capacity to withstand the firing power of the rest of the country”.

This is a conclusion that is derived purely from an appeal to coercion/force and not the attempt to address the actual demands of the Biafra agitators.

ARGUMENTUM AD HOMINNEM (ARGUEMENT TO THE MAN):

Argument/news story that attacks opponent instead of focusing on the argument that will prove the truth of the conclusion.

This fallacy is sub-divided into:

Abusive: Attacking the defects/character of the opponent rather than faulting his position. Example, “Effiong is deformed in his eye and left leg and is a drop out from the University, he lacks the credentials to write a book to be taken serious.

Circumstantial: This argument compels an opponent to accept the other person’s view by exposing the circumstances of the person. Example, “the Chairman of ACROJ, Mr. Iwara’s, fourth generation backward were all Christians and Mr. Iwara himself is a devoted Christian, so he has no right to condemn the activities of some clergymen, whether they are good or bad because they are his spiritual leaders.

Tu Quogue (You Also): this is a situation where the accused or his apologists respond by accusing his accusers of also being involved in wrongdoing. Example, Mr. Agba Jalingo writes, “Investigations and several eye witnesses confirmed that in the past, Professor Unelisu has been involved severally in rape cases, hence he has been a serial rapist. Professor Unelisu’s apologists responded by stating, “Jalingo how much was paid to you to destroy your brother? You are writing all these rubbish because you have been paid to do so”.

This is a fallacious respond which simply avoided the main issue of rape by alleging that the investigator has been given bribe to have written what he wrote.

Poisoning the Wells: Here, the conclusion of an opponent’s position is rejected on the basis that it is derived from his interest and not on reason or evidence. Example, “Solomon Asha has written several articles and news stories supporting the call for an enhanced salary structure (Special Media Salary Structure) for media workers of all categories because he is a journalist”.

Here the writer did not prove that journalists are well paid, so do not deserve a higher paid, rather claimed that such support is coming from Mr. Asha because he is a journalist.

Other fallacies which reporters must try to avoid while writing their news stories include, Argumentum ad Ignorantiam (Argument from Ignorance), Argumentum Ad Misericordiam ( Appeal to pity or sympathy), Argumentum Ad Verecundiam (Appeal to Authority), Argumentum Ad Populum (Appeal to the People or Bandwagon), Ignorantio Elenchi (Irrelevant Conclusion), Attacking a Straw man, Fallacies of Ambiguity (Equivocation, Amphiboly, Accent) etc.

CONCLUSION:

The new media as already stated has several advantages over the traditional media. Practitioners of the New Media however have an enormous responsibility to adhere to the already established principles and order inherited from the traditional media.

Practitioners of the new media have an advantage of reaching billions of audience globally at the click of their computer/laptop/smart phone icon, “SEND” button. They equally have a greater burden and moral obligation to make sure that they report not just the truth, because a wider and educated global audience instantaneously judge what is put online, but also that their stories must be objective, fair/balanced, clear, brief/punchy, flowing with language, builds social harmony/cohesion rather than incite crises, etc.

Thank you.

Solomon Asha is the SA Media to Governor Ayade. Until his appointment, he was the Editor of CrossRiverWatch.

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Late Dan Unimna

It was sometime in year 2000, while in the office of the Minister, in the Ministry of Cooperation and Integration in Africa as Head of Media and Public Relations, my boss, Prof. Jerry Gana had called me into his office to meet a very close friend of his, whose wife was having some issues in her office that required some media attention.

I was briefed on the matter and was to ensure that the necessary media management was handled. I was new on the job and still learning the ropes, so I rushed off to the THISDAY Newspaper’s office in Area 1, Abuja to meet the News Editor, to whom I had been introduced by a friend some months back.

On arrival at THISDAY office, I was told that the News Editor I knew had been replaced by a new person. Flustered and almost confused, I requested to meet the new News Editor.

As I was ushered into the office, a gentleman, who in my view, did not look like a journalist was pointed out to me. As I walked up to him and introduced myself, he beamed a smile, came round and dragged a chair from the next table for me to sit down and said “my name is Dan Unimna” The surname sounded Igbo to me and that made me more relaxed.

So I started my story in Igbo language, as I was prating on, he was just smiling. At a point I stopped and asked what was funny with my story. He calmly said “sorry, I don’t understand that language”. Surprised, I said “but your name is Umunna”, “Unimna” he corrected me. Then I asked, ‘‘Where are you from’’ “Obudu Cross River State” he said.

I started my story afresh in English and handed him some papers that contained useful information on the matter in question. He examined them and said, “ok, I will see what I can do about it” Not very satisfied with that kind of non-committal answer, I leaned towards him and whispered “Please tell me what you want me to do so that this story can come out tomorrow”.

Again that gentle smile and he said “don’t worry I will do my job. You will have something tomorrow”. I went back to my office and waited for the next day with my heart in my mouth. The next day, I saw a beautiful story that addressed the issues comprehensively in THISDAY with Dan Unimna’s byline. That encounter marked the beginning of my over fifteen years friendship and relationship with Dan Unimna.

In 2002, by then Prof. Jerry Gana had been re-deployed to the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, there was a need for a professional as Chief Press Secretary to the Minister. Dan was then Deputy Editor (Daily) of National Interest Newspapers. I reached out to him and made the offer.

He was not persuaded that he could fit into the Civil Service structure. He asked me what the salary would be and whether there would be a car and residential accommodation to go with the job. I said about the salary, I could not say exactly but that it won’t be radically different from mine, then as Personal Assistant, Media and Publicity, which was a Level 12 Step 2 position on a monthly salary of about fifty thousand Naira. I also told him that there may not be a direct official vehicle for him but that something could be worked out. On accommodation, I was point blank that there would be none.

He laughed me to scorn and told me that he had a Peugeot 505 Evolution as official car and the place we were discussing was his official residence paid for by National Interest. He doubted very much if he could consider the offer. I asked him to think over it and get back to me the next day.

While I was struggling to convince Dan to accept the offer, I was also facing a stiffer challenge convincing my friend and direct report then, Ike Neliaku and our boss, Prof. Jerry Gana, before whom I had made so much mouth about a dyed-in-the-wool professional with the right temperament to fit into our ‘loop’.

As none of them knew or had met Dan before, I was asked to give an undertaking to accept full responsibility should anything go wrong with my recommendation. I gladly accepted that conditionality.

Eventually Dan joined us. Not only did he do very well, he quickly earned the confidence and trust of our boss and was immediately admitted into the ‘inner caucus’. One of the signs that one had been admitted into the inner caucus was joining Prof. Gana for lunch at the dining table upstairs.

I studied Theatre Arts at first degree. Dan Unimna was the formal journalism school I attended. He not only taught me practical journalism, he placed his incredible contacts and friends in the media industry at my disposal. Very few people among our friends know that I have never worked directly in any media organisation.

Dan and I went a long way, from friendship we dissolved into family. We exercise as much authority in each other’s home. Our wives and children know this. I cannot capture my relationship with Dan in any one tribute. People around us know us as the ‘odd twins’ one tall and fair in complexion the other dark and short.

I cannot also talk about Dan as a dead person. Because for me, he will never die. We crossed the borders and threshold of friendship into something I doubt has a name or definition. Dan was a calm, collected and deep thinking person. He measured his words. He loved family, nuclear and extended. He respected friends and colleagues.

He was a refined and responsible person, the rare type. Dan loved life. I mean modest, moderate, God-centered life. He was a family man to the core. Each time we traveled by road, he will always delay our return journey by stopping at every roadside market to buy things for his wife. From plantain, to snails, to bush meat, name them. Our return journeys by road were always stormy because I would always object to stopping to buy things. Dan was simply a nice guy.

Even when I took a leave of absence to go work in the Presidency from 2011 to May 2015, we would always find the time to meet to compare notes. We developed a language of our own, such that we could talk about people in their presence without them understanding. We had names for people around us from ‘oracle’ to ‘dibia’ to ‘orange’ etc. We were happy and nothing was wrong with any of us health wise.

I recall sometime in 2009, Dan and I had gone to visit with our mutual friend Yusuf Adi, then Special Assistant Media to the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, at his eleventh floor office at the Federal Secretariat Abuja. As we settled into our seats, Yusuf excused himself to go ease himself. Just then, Dan gripped his seat and told me that the whole room was as if it was turning.

I was confused more by the look on his face than what he said. After a few minutes, just before Yusuf returned to the room, Dan said that the room had stopped turning and I was relieved. We left Yusuf’s office bantering and laughing as usual and forgot completely about the ‘turning room’.

The next day or so, Dan said he was feeling like he had malaria and stopped over at the hospital to see a doctor on his way to the office. He was to later call me from his home that he would not be coming to the office. That the doctor told him his blood pressure was very high and that he needed to rest. That was the genesis of a health challenge that my brother managed till Thursday the 22nd of October, 2015.

There was no time anybody around Dan thought or suspected he was gravely ill. To us all, it was the normal ‘BP’ issues most people our age are managing. The sudden turn of events about his health was as sudden and shocking as the reality of his death.

And so in the early hours of Thursday, 22nd October 2015, one phone I dreaded came through from Kemi, Dan’s wife announcing, amidst wailing, that Dan was gone. I rushed to his home, met him in what I thought a ‘restful sleep’.

I called him by the name we call each other “Young man! Young man! Young man!” and he answered me not. It is very painful for me to recall this. It is even more painful for me to accept the reality that “Dan of the Most High” is gone forever.

Dan, I can’t get you out of my mind. I won’t even attempt to do so, because I know it would be a fruitless effort. To Kemi and Sylvia, I can assure you that the Lord, who alone is God, will step into this situation because words and tears are not enough to console you.

Dan! go in peace. Go rest in the bosom of the Lord.

culled from Thisday

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Gabriel Ita

President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) is a man of fairness, equity, justice, and high level discipline. He is aware of the marginalization, oppression, robbery and injustice that have been inflicted on Cross River State and her people by the federal government since 1999.

Buhari is also aware of the fact that Cross River State despite receiving the least federal revenue in the South South has achieved the best of development in the region since 1999.

Buhari is fully aware that we were robbed of our oil-rich Bakassi, and not duly compensated by anyone. He is aware that if Bakassi was situated in Ogun State, the then President Obasanjo could not have accepted such inhuman ICJ judgment against his own people, as it was in the case of the innocent people of Cross River State in 2002.

And if it were in Katsina State, it would have been a war break out. But the good people of Cross River State chose to tow their usual path of peace for our national peace and security.

He believes that the 76 oil wells could better have been left for Cross River State which already had lost her oil peninsula to international conspiracy. Buhari is aware that Cross River State is still oil-producing but excluded from sharing in the 13% oil revenue meant for the oil producing states.

Buhari is aware that the federal government has obviously neglected Cross River State since 1999 despite its image boosting impacts for the country in many ways. This is very evident in the complete deplorable conditions of all the federal roads in the state, and in the way federal properties like Calabar seaport, EPZ etc. have been denied the needed federal support to make them boom.

That Cross River State has singlehandedly been promoting the image of Nigeria at its own costs without any federal reward is not unknown to PMB. For example, Cross River State has the only presidential resort where the country’s President with his family can spend his vacation in the country instead of travelling abroad.

Cross River State has the largest rain forest in the country and holds one of the UN world’s biodiversity hotspots. Cross River State has the only business and leisure resort in West Africa— Tinapa, and owns the best convention centre in the continent— CICC, all to the glory of Nigeria.

That no other annual event in Nigeria brings as much foreign tourists into this country as Calabar Festival is well known to PMB. That Carnival Calabar (Africa’s biggest street party) is indeed the biggest event in the whole of Africa, greatly positioning Nigeria in limelight is a well known fact to Buhari.

PMB is aware that, the old city of Calabar having played a major role in the creation and the unity of Nigeria deserves that special status of a Federal Capital city with special landmark projects and development supports by the federal government.

Buhari is aware that the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme of the federal government has trained and empowered thousands of youths of other states in the region except Cross River State, despite the support we gave to make the programme succeed.

He knows very well that the multinational oil and gas companies offer thousands of undergraduate and postgraduate scholarship awards home and abroad annually to students of all the states in the region except Cross River State.

Buhari knows that Cross River State is the only oil producing state that is not benefiting from the 13% oil revenue sharing.

PMB is impressed with us that despite all the cheating on us and despite all the oil boom monies in those states, none of them has made more progress than Cross River State. He is also amazed that we’ve remained focused, resilient, united and peaceful in spite of all these.

PMB is aware that CRS is too rich to be poor. He knows that no Nigerian state is richer than our land. In fact, my Akamkpa L.G.A. alone is richer than many states in Nigeria. He knows our people are humble, peace-loving, faithful, patriotic and reliable.

And he is now saying, these people have sacrificed too much and have been cheated for too long. I must attend to them specially, and give them a special place in my heart. I must ensure they get all the necessary support they were denied. I must correct all the wrongs for them. I must work with them.

He is indeed demonstrating it by appointing Cross Riverians into such key national positions that we have never held before. First, it was Rear Admiral Ibok-ette Ekwe Ibas as the Chief of Naval Staff, then Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita as the acting Head of Service (H.o.S) and soon to be confirmed as the H.o.S. of the Federation.

Chief Hilliard Etagbo Eta is not only appointed by Buhari to represent the South South zone in the presidential committee to reconstitute the federal boards of Parastatals, Agencies and Commissions but, will eventually be appointed by the President to head one of them.

As at when Buhari was in Cross River State, it was still uncertain in Abuja who will take over from Mr Danladi Kifasi as the next H.o.S. because even PMB himself had not finalised who to entrust the office yet.

But by the time Baba returned to Aso Rock from the Nation’s Paradise having performed the ground breaking for the best road ever in Nigeria, no other person could be in his heart for the job than that lady from Cross River State. He immediately approved the appointment of Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita that same day.

From the overwhelming support of the people to the excellent organization of the event, and the magnitude of the projects with their promising economic fortunes for the entire country, PMB was thrilled and proud to be identified with Cross River State.

That all these could come from a state government was amazing to him. He really felt honoured and happy to perform his first ground breaking with such important and world class multibillion dollars projects.

He saw in our governor Ayade, a visionary, intelligent, bold and serious minded leader he must work with. PMB is proud of Cross River State and ready to stand by us, as evident in his ground breaking speech. Buhari is a true President for all.

Now a Cross Riverian has emerged as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. I see many greater things coming to Cross River State. Nigeria is the preferred destination in Africa for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and Cross River State is the preferred destination in Nigeria for such investors as they come into the country.

From 2016, so many FDIs will be trooping into Nigeria and more than 50% of them will choose to establish in the Nation’s Paradise, Cross River State. The grace of God has turned upon us, and our story is turning around. “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner…Psalm.118:22-23”.

Fellow Cross Riverians, let’s all join hearts and hands with our governor, Prof. Sen. Ben Ayade and move our state to enviable heights. Like he said “We will build our own Dubai with our own hands”— Ben Ayade.

May God grant our governor the grace and strength to succeed

God bless PMB
God bless CRS
God bless Nigeria.

Gabriel Ita is an agent of positive development and a patriotic Cross Riverian. Email: gabita1005@yahoo.com

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Cross River State, no doubt, is a pure homogeneous society. As such, the state is considered fit to use the epithet “The People’s Paradise”.

Of course, a paradise is a place where life is pleasant and beautiful because of the “all-time” presence of peace and unbroken bond of unity that binds the people; abundance of justice and equity; it is a place where people may disagree but not without agreeing later.

The state is known for hospitality, not hostility. This is the singular reason that the state is a tourism destination; again, because of its endowment of peace and rich natural resources such as Kwa falls, a waterfall along the Kwa River, Agbokim Water Falls, Rain Forests of Afi, Obudu Cattle Ranch, Ikom Monoliths – made up of a series of volcanic stone monoliths of the stone age, the Calabar Drill Monkey Sanctuary, Mountain Walkway Canopy, etc.

Man made tourist attractions also abound, viz: amusement facilities at the popular Obudu Cattle Ranch Resort such as the “Monkey Canopy Walkway”, the Tinapa Business Resort, Calabar Slave Park, Calabar Marina, Calabar Residency Museum, the annual Calabar Carnival that takes place during Christmas etc.

It is not by accident that the people of Cross River state live like a family – a nuclear family bloated up with eighteen children – this is referring to the components of the state (namely, Abi, Akamkpa, Akpabuyo, Bekwara, Biase, Boki, Calabar Municipal, Calabar South, Etung, Ikom, Obanliku, Obubra, Obudu, Odukpani, Ogoja, Yakurr and Yala Local Government Areas).

Cross River State, will forever enjoy the respect it gets from the world because of another wonder of the state: the state is often referred to as the Tower of Babel.

If you ask me why, I will tell you that the Tower of Babel as the Holy Bible tells its story, is the place where human languages split from one to hundreds of thousands.

This term aptly apply to Cross River State because the state is blessed with several sub-dialectical groups, namely; Etung, Olulumo, Ofutop, Nkim, Abanajum, Nseke, Boki in Ikom and Etung, Yala, Yache, Igede, Ukelle, Ekajuka, Mbube, Bette, Bekwara, Utugwang etc.

The language diversity of Cross River State depicts the cultural diversity of Nigeria. Cross River is a similitude of what can be described as “unity in diversity”, as evident in her multiple languages. This is an indication that she is made up of a people with common history and destiny.

Most bizzare, but real, is a community nestled between two mountains in Ubang, Obudu LGA, called ‘Ofambe’. Female and male inhabitants in this community speak separate languages and they understand themselves.

In this community, any child born knows that he or she has to speak the language of his or her sex because any attempt to learn the language of the other will end in futility.

If a female tries to speak the language of the male or vice versa, she will not be able because she will be confused and make a lot of mistakes.

For example, men folk call water Amie while the female call it Banu. The verb ‘go,’ is Mbie by male, while to the women, it is Uruo. Women call yam Iri, while men call it Ketung.

This gender-linguistic divide is only, as we are bold to say, peculiar to Cross River, to the envy and admiration of the world. If multiplicity of languages cannot destroy Cross River, but rather strengthens her unity, then, political divide, which is ephemeral and only runs along the lines of individuals’/group’s interests, cannot divide this united people either.

Politically, Cross River state has two major political parties, the PDP (People’s Democratic Party) – the ruling political party, and the APC (All Progressives Congress) the opposition political party in Cross River State.

In spite of the dichotomy in political ideologies between the two political parties, the common factor between the two political parties is their programmes which align with the vision and mission of the state; most importantly, to promote justice and equity in the state, foster unity and peace, and to ensure security of lives and property as well as creating equal employment opportunities for all the members of the Cross River state family.

Though Cross River State is not built on a faulty political foundation, it is obvious that the struggle for supremacy which characterises tendencies of man exists in Cross River State.

This is what gave impetus to this brief tips on the need for “Cross Riverians” to come together to work willingly to harness its rich natural endowments and to support a visionary leader to build on the legacies of the past leaders in order to make Cross Riverians enjoy a high standard of living.

The two political parties, the PDP and the APC may go (just like the SDP and NRC are now in extinction) but the state will remain forever; membership of the APC or PDC can be renounced, but the state remains our permanent home.

For instance, a couple of days ago, Victor Ndoma Egba, former Leader of the Senate withdrew his membership of the PDP, but he did not and cannot denounce his membership of the Cross River state family.

This is because the party is a mere product of the state just like the child is a product of the family. Children who are the social components of the family are meant to protect the family from external aggression; make useful contributions towards the achievement of the family; uphold the African heritage of respect for their parents and elders and wisely present their problems to their parents who have the mandate to lead the family to achieve set goals.

In like manner, members of both political parties – the PDP and the APC must come together to build the state.

In vein will the dream of the state be achieved if OPPOSITION is deployed instead of CO-OPERATION as a means of adding up the voices of rival parties as their quota of contribution towards the inescapable task of preserving and harnessing the rich economic potentials of the state as well as ensuring unity, peace and progress of Cross River State.

Eval Asikong and Paul Ojeka are both aides to the Cross River State Governor

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Princewill Odidi

With the hype, support and endorsement of the superhighway come and gone, it’s time we talk about the reality of our roads in Cross River state.

Since the new mapping of the Superhighway now routes through Etung Local government rather than Ikom as earlier mapped, then over 70% of the state will have to live with the old road including Ikom.

While I still earnestly support the Superhighway, we cannot pretend that all is well with the current road. I just read an article by Christiana Ukung-Alawa tiltled “We may all die while waiting for the Superhighway”. The piece raised some inward concerns.

Apart from mere rhetoric’s, is there any meaningful plan to incorporate the current highway into 2016 federal budget?

Our national representatives, Legor Idagbo, Jarigbe Agom, Bassey Ewa, Mike Etaba, Rose Oko, Owan Eno, we the people would like to have updates on your positions on this road.

I intentionally left out Gershom Bassey and other southern representatives. The road may be significant for them, but not as important as to my Northern and Central representatives. Gershom Bassey and other southern congressmen fly into Calabar and out of Calabar. Except on important assignment, they hardly take this road.

But you my brothers and sisters of Central and North, the market women who cannot take their produce to market because of bad roads are your mothers, sisters or aunties. The young undergraduates that often die on these roads are your relatives.

The excessive blind spots and daily accidents on these roads affect your people directly, you cannot stay at the comfort of Abuja, in air conditioned legislative offices and forget your people.

The people elected you all into the House. You are our mouth piece. The village woman in Abi, Yakurr, Ikom or Ogoja cannot express their pain to the national government, that’s why you were carefully elected to speak for them.

Let Governor Ben Ayade focus on the superhighway and some local roads if he can, at least with that his hands are full and let him give account to those.

We the people are calling on you in Congress to give us a proper representation by making Calabar-Ugep-Ikom-Ogoja road a reality in the coming fiscal year. Failure to get this addressed immediately would be termed a disappointment.

As other representatives in other states are making inputs into the 2016 budget, please, do the same for your people.

Whatever it will take to get this road fixed, whether it is lobby, internal and external pressure, external loans, world bank and other international organs infrastructure support, please do it. The people will not take “not within my power” for an answer.

So long as this road is concerned, we the people are ready to ascribe the credit to you the members, House of Reps. and Senate. The era of empowering your constituents with wewing machines and Okada is over.

If you really want to empower your people, come together as a team, all you members of Congress from the State; map out a strategy on how you will ensure this road is permanently fixed. At least we are enlightened enough today to know it is within your jurisdiction to lobby and make this possible.

This is the social media age, our people are getting enlightened daily and all forms of timidity and fear of the high and mighty is subsiding. The people are beginning to know their rights and also are beginning to understand your obligations to them as members of Congress.

This time around, Keke NAPEP, sewing machines and Okada will not be enough as empowerment. This road is our expected collective empowerment. More so, government is now an open book.

Please, update “we the people”, what you are doing about this road, meetings you are holding about the road, petitions you are turning in about the road, International support you are attempting to attract to the state to help with infrastructure and the road.

Please understand this, the number one priority in Cross River State today is the Calabar-Ugep-Ikom-Ogoja Road. If you have plans to empower the people, this is the only empowerment “we the people” are requesting from you in the next four years in office. Collective empowerment to benefit all, not selective empowerment to benefit a few.

We put our complete trust in you, your team consist of some the best the State has sent out to Congress in recent years. Don’t come back empty handed, don’t come back only with proposed bills in their hundreds that have little or no effect on the lives of the common man.

Don’t come back telling us the number of bills you initiated while in Congress, come back telling us the number of federal projects you attracted to the state. Please, comeback with this road fully fixed. Come back with full credit for this Calabar-Ugep-Ikom-Ogoja road.

Abraham had two sons, Esau and Jacob. Jacob representing the Superhighway has received all the accolades, praise, presidential visit and ground breaking, but please, we should not forget that Esau representing the current road is the older one.

If you cannot bless Esau and accord him a presidential ground breaking, at least please, remember Esau and at least accord him a plate of porridge. Change his garment after over four decades of continued use.

We the people have spoken, I don’t think we are asking for too much.

Princewill Odidi a social commentator writes from Atlanta, USA.

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